Sensitivity Test

A new study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition states that Canadian researchers from McMaster University have developed a sensitivity test to detect deadliest superbugs and infectious disease. The test is capable of detecting superbugs such as C difficile and MRSA.

The test can identify the smallest traces of metabolites, proteins or fragments of DNA which might signal the presence of infectious disease such as respiratory or gastrointestinal. The method is 10,000 times more efficient than the current detection systems. Director of McMaster’s Biointerfaces Institute, John Brennan said the molecular device can be switched on by a specific molecule of their choice which can be a certain type of disease indicator or DNA molecule representing a genome of a virus.

The best advantage of the device is that it does not require a sophisticated environment to carry on the tests. It means the equipment can run at room temperature which will make it a mass product. Scientists are currently figuring out ways to create a portable point-of-care test that would work without lab instruments. They are planning to move the results of the test on a paper surface which will indicate the presence of infection or contamination in people, food or environment.