Rapid Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and 2 Using an 1 Improved Piezoelectric Biosensor

18 19 Disaster events can create situations in which blood donations can save lives. However, in emergency 20 situations and when resources are depleted, on site blood donations require the rapid and accurate detection of 21 blood borne pathogens, including the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2). 22 Techniques such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody capture by the enzyme linked 23 immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for HIV-1 and HIV-2, are precise but time consuming and require sophisticated 24 equipment that is not compatible with emergency point-of-care requirements. We describe here a prototype 25 biosensor based on piezoelectric materials functionalized with specific antibodies against HIV-1 and HIV-2. We 26 show the rapid and accurate detection of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in both simple and complex solutions, including 27 human serum, and in the presence of cross-confounding virus. We report detection limits of 12 TCID50 for 28 HIV-1 and 87 TCID50 for HIV-2. Accuracy, precision measurements, and the operation of the prototype 29 biosensor showed a favorable comparison to nucleic acid amplification. We conclude that the biosensor has 30 significant promise as a successful point-of-care diagnostic device for using in emergency field applications 31 requiring rapid and reliable testing for blood borne pathogens. 32 33 on N ovem er 3, 2017 by gest ht://jcm .sm .rg/ D ow nladed fom