Author(s)

Emmanuel Gikunoo^1*, Adeyabeba Abera², Eyassu Woldesenbet^2,3

¹Materials Engineering Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
²Mechanical Engineering Department, National Science Foundation Center for Next Generation Composites, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, USA.
³Mechanical Engineering Department, National Science Foundation Center for Next Generation Composites, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.

Early diagnosis of diseases is critical in its effective management. Traditional disease detection methods require specialized equipment and trained personnel. With the introduction of rapid diagnostic test kits (RDTs), disease detection has become easier and faster. However, these RDTs have failed to compete with the specialized laboratory equipment due to their high detection limits and false alarm rates. This paper presents a novel method of using carbon nanofibers (CNFs) grown on glass microballoons (NMBs) to achieve ultra-low detection limits in RDTs. The NMBs have millions of nanosized CNFs grown on each microballoon, with each CNF having a strong bonding affinity for antibodies. The NMBs conjugated with secondary antibodies have therefore a significantly higher probability of capturing minute antigen concentrations in solution. Furthermore, the dark color formation at the capture zone makes visual disease detection possible. Human Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was selected as the model analyte to study the performance of NMBs using a sandwich immunoassay protocol. Ultra-low electrical detection limit of (4 pg/ml) and rapid re- sponse (~1 minute) was achieved using this method.

Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits, Detection Limit, Carbon Nanofibers, Immunoassay, Immunoglobulin G

Gikunoo, E. , Abera, A. and Woldesenbet, E. (2014) Achieving Ultra-Low Detection Limit Using Nanofiber Labels for Rapid Disease Detection. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 4, 214-222. doi: 10.4236/aid.2014.44030.