Detect Pathogens before they spread     à Stop losses         and Payouts Automatically test for specific pathogens in water, food and liquefied solids any time you want using an inline pathogen sensor                    A NASA Spin-off
	No Technician, No BioSafety Lab, No Tags, No PCR, No Optical Equipment

Pathogen Sensor (Limited Release Beta Version) 
Early Warning Inc is a spin-off from NASA’s Ames Research Center. Early Warning has developed a Pathogen Sensor that automatically detects pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites without a biosafety laboratory or technician, and distinguishes infectious pathogens from harmless microorganisms. The sensor will enable end users to test water, food and people without a laboratory, shorten the test cycle to 3 hours from 2 to 14 days, and reduce the cost per test by 70% to 90%. The Pathogen Sensor employs a multiplexing DNA electrochemical biosensor and a pathogen concentrating device that automatically samples, concentrates and electronically transmits test results. The Pathogen Sensor can be used for Industrial, Municipal Water, Point-of-Use, and Security applications.

Ø Sensitivity - The pathogen sensor generates positive signals from 1 cell per 100 ml sample without PCR or amplification. This is achieved by detecting RNA instead of cells (as there are 20,000 RNA per cell), and processing 10 Liters of sample instead of 100 mLs (to provide 100 times more cells per sample). As a result, over 1 million targets are delivered to the biosensor from a 1 cell per 100 ml sample equivalent. Lower concentrations are possible with bigger sample sizes beyond 10 L which can be automatically sampled and concentrated in the field.

Ø Specificity – Using highly specific DNA probes that only bind with RNA from the target pathogens. Interfering materials are flushed away before detection by extracting target pathogens with antibodies attached to magnetic beads. A preparation recipe can be fine-tuned to the specific input conditions.

Ø Multiplexing – Where the sensor is pre-fabricated with a standard suite of DNA probes (e.g. such as Indicator E.coli, E.coli O157:H7, Salmonella, etc.) attached to individual electrodes so that one electrode can measure E.coli O157:H7 and a second electrode can measure Salmonella. Standard tests are prepackaged and custom probes can be added.

Pathogen Concentrating Device  which automatically samples water or liquids, and prepares RNA of target pathogens for detection on the biosensor chip.

Auto Sampling: The concentrator connects to a pipe and collects a 10 Liter liquid sample. 10 Liters are used to increase the likelihood of capturing pathogens which could be missed in a smaller 100 mL grab sample. Ultrafiltration: The sample is re-circulated through an ultrafiltration filter to remove clean water and retain microorganisms in a highly concentrated retentate. Magnetic Bead Separation: The retentate is exposed to magnetic beads covered with antibodies of the target pathogens to be detected. A magnetic circuit separates illness-causing pathogens from harmless microorganisms. RNA Extraction: Pathogens attached to the magnetic beads are further processed by microfluidics to extract RNA from target pathogens using cell lysis and bead filtration.

Biosensor Chip A multiplexing DNA electrochemical biosensor that generates electrical signals in proportion to the concentration of individual target pathogens. Single use biochips are packaged in a replacement cartridge.     Click here for a video of the technology

Hybridization: RNA strands are delivered to highly specific DNA probes attached to individually designated electrodes. Each electrode is pre-fabricated with DNA probes from a specific pathogen, such as E.coli O157:H7. Detection can be made when RNA from the sample hybridize with complementary DNA probes. Electrochemical Detection: Voltammetry scans are applied on each electrode and only the electrodes where hybridization takes place cause guanine to oxidize and subsequently generate electrical current. The peak of the current is measured against background noise to determine if the electrode’s pathogen is present, and against currents from known samples to determine the concentration of the electrode’s pathogen. This is done simultaneously for each electrode to measure the presence and concentration of multiple pathogens in the sample. Transmit Test Results: Test results are electronically transmitted through wired or wireless communications to designated people, devices or websites. Once done, the system sanitizes itself with the collected filtered water and disinfectant before the next test.