Ultra-highly sensitive and wash-free bio-detection of H5N1 virus by immunomagnetic reduction assays

A platform for assaying avian influenza H5N1 viruses that involves measuring the ac immunomagnetic reduction of a magnetic reagent mixed with a detected sample is developed. The magnetic reagent contained magnetic nanoparticles coated with antibodies. To achieve an ultra-high sensitivity assay, a system utilizing a high-transition-temperature superconducting quantum interference device was used to sense the immunomagnetic reduction of the reagents. The results confirmed the ultra-high sensitivity of the immunomagnetic reduction assay on H5N1.