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Rapid Homogeneous Detection of Biological Assays Using Magnetic Modulation Biosensing System
Published on: June 13, 2010
Rapid detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen using magnetic immuno-chromatography (MICT)
Shon Workman1, Susan K Wells, Chou-Pong Pau
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States.
Insights
A new magnetic immuno-chromatographic test (MICT) can detect HIV-1 p24 antigen using super-paramagnetic particles. This rapid, low-cost assay offers a portable solution for HIV-1 p24 detection in diverse settings.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Current HIV antibody tests lack p24 antigen detection.
- Rapid HIV screening methods need enhanced diagnostic capabilities.
- Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) are complex for widespread HIV p24 antigen detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop a lateral-flow assay for HIV-1 p24 antigen detection.
- Utilize super-paramagnetic particles for enhanced sensitivity and portability.
- Create a simple, low-cost, and rapid diagnostic tool for HIV-1 p24.
Main Methods:
- Developed a magnetic immuno-chromatographic test (MICT) using super-paramagnetic particles.
- Employed an inexpensive instrument to detect magnetic moments for signal generation.
- Validated the assay using spiked samples, plasma, and seroconversion panels.
Main Results:
- Achieved a lower limit of detection of 30 pg/ml for HIV-1 p24 in buffer and plasma.
- Demonstrated reproducible detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen with coefficients of variation <13%.
- Successfully detected intact HIV-1 virus and showed comparable performance to EIAs in seroconversion panels.
Conclusions:
- MICT offers a simple, low-cost, and portable method for rapid HIV-1 p24 antigen detection.
- The assay provides a numerical output for easier result interpretation.
- MICT has potential for diverse testing environments, improving early HIV detection.
Abstract:
Detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections has been enhanced by incorporating p24 antigen detection with current HIV antibody detection using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs). However, screening for HIV antibodies has increased through the use of rapid, lateral-flow HIV antibody detection assays that currently do not have the capability to detect HIV p24 antigen. In this report, a lateral-flow based assay using super-paramagnetic particles as the detection marker was developed for the detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen. This magnetic immuno-chromatographic test (MICT) uses an inexpensive, low-maintenance instrument that detects the magnetic moment of the super-paramagnetic particles in a magnetic field. MICT is simple to perform, provides a numerical output for easier determination of reactive results and can be completed in 40min. The lower limit of detection for HIV-1 p24 spiked into assay sample buffer and 50% plasma was 30pg/ml for both. Detection of HIV-1 p24 antigen at 50pg/ml was reproducible in both inter-run and intra-run assays with coefficients of variation of <13%. Furthermore, the MICT p24 assay was able to detect intact virus spiked into 50% plasma (lower detection limit of approximately 250,000 viral RNA copies/ml). MICT detection of increasing HIV-1 p24 levels in commercially available seroconversion panels by MICT was only slightly later than that detected by much more complex EIAs. MICT could provide a simple, low-cost, and portable method for rapid HIV-1 p24 detection in a variety of testing environments.
