FACS technology used in a new rapid bacterial detection method

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Hematology

Background:

• Current blood donor screening methods, like BacT/ALERT or Pall eBDS, have high analytical sensitivity but often yield results after platelets are transfused.
• This delay limits their effectiveness in preventing transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, rapid bacterial detection method for blood products.
• To assess the feasibility of using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) technology for this purpose.

Main Methods:

• Bacteria were stained with thiazole orange dye and analyzed using FACS.
• The entire process, including staining and measurement, was completed within 30 minutes.
• Analytical sensitivity was determined for six transfusion-relevant bacterial strains, both with and without a 6-hour pre-incubation step.

Main Results:

• Without pre-incubation, analytical sensitivity ranged from 10^3 to 10^5 CFU mL⁻¹.
• With a 6-hour pre-incubation step, sensitivity improved to 10^1 CFU mL⁻¹ for all tested bacteria.
• FACS detection demonstrated a rapid test time of 30 minutes.

Conclusions:

• Bacterial detection by FACS technology, especially with a pre-incubation step, presents a sensitive and rapid alternative to conventional culture methods.
• This approach holds promise for more effective prevention of bacterial infections transmitted through blood transfusions.