| TECHNOLOGY |
The Biodetection Enabling Analyte Delivery System (BEADS) is an automated front-end sample preparation device for pathogen detection. The system literally uses a packed bed of beads--tiny glass, polymer, or magnetic spheres--to capture chemical or biological species of interest. BEADS works for liquid, gas, or solid contaminants by suspending them in liquids and placing them in contact with the beads. The beads are automatically delivered and released for each sample. Bacteria, spores, viruses, or their DNA bind to the beads while other material is washed away. The system concentrates and purifies the protein or DNA from environmental samples for biodetection. BEADS has many applications, such as monitoring air and water contamination and for detecting food contamination or the presence of biowarfare agents.
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