Systems and methods for detecting toxins in a sample
Inventor: Scott Gallaher
Serial #: 11/824,138
Applications: A low-cost, real time, broad spectrum biological method for screening of toxins in water supplies as well as performing toxicity reduction evaluations, identification of point and non-point source pollution, pesticides in soil, and pharmaceutical irritant testing. Applications include monitoring of public and military water supplies among other bodies of water.
Technology: A novel water toxicity assay based on the measurement of the rapid changes in the swimming behavior of motile single cell organisms (protozoan ciliates) due to toxic materials exposure. The assay requires no chemistry or reagents, has little or no turn-around time for results. The toxicity measurement system may include an imaging module to monitor and track the movement of one or more organisms in the sample and identify abnormalities.