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Best Scientific Ltd., Swindon, and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, are seeking Home Office funding to develop a portable microscope, capable of the rapid detection of biological contamination, either caused deliberately or by accident.
It's envisaged that the detection of proteinaceous materials, such as ricin, would be possible within just 15-20 minutes with such a microscope and at well below lethal dosage levels, all without the need for swabbing or taking cultures.
We already have a laboratory-based microscopy system which provides rapid and highly sensitive detection of biological materials, across a wide range of surfaces, said Dr Eric Best, Managing Director of Best Scientific. Building on this proven system, we believe it's possible to create a user friendly, optical vision system which will be mobile, portable and flexible, and equipped to analyse, in situ, biological threat agents such as Bacillus anthracis spores and Escherichia coli O157.
The item we're proposing is a hand-held vision microscope, designed for use in airports, ports, government buildings and other ‘at-risk' locations where the ultra-rapid detection of contamination is required. This would enable evacuation procedures to be carried out with a minimum of delay, allowing subsequent decontamination procedures to begin immediately.
The funding application, lodged with the Home Office under its Science and Technology Programme, outlines an 18-month development programme. Project leaders are Prof C.W. Keevil and Dr S.A. Wilks, School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, and Dr Eric Best of Best Scientific.