The challenge
The identity and enumeration of bacteria in environmental and clinical samples are vital to ensure appropriate responses to microbial presence are made with confidence and in a timely manner. This can support clinical decisions regarding antibiotic treatment and help reduce antibiotic resistance.
FluoretiQ is a Bristol based diagnostics company on a mission to champion antibiotic stewardship. Their NANOPLEX® diagnostic system identifies and enumerates bacteria directly from patient samples in 15 minutes. The assay is single step, and does not require complex instrumentation, culture, or PCR to generate a result. This allows the assay to be run using simple microscopes commonly available in many diagnostic laboratories. FluoretiQ were facing several challenges in assay development including characterisation of assay reagents and reducing the time and resource required to generate a positive result.
The solution
As part of Measurement for Recovery programme (M4R), NPL helped in the characterisation of FluoretiQ’s diagnostic beads, coated with species-specific carbohydrate receptors. This was achieved through chemical (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and fluorescent spectroscopy analysis, which provided data concerning the optimisation of both bead synthesis and the carbohydrate coating, supporting evidence for assay development. NPL assessed methods to reduce the time to result and the uncertainty associated with a sample processing step prior to bacteria detection. NPL also conducted electron microscopy (TEM) imaging to support the concept of the close interaction of the bacteria with the oligosaccharide coated diagnostic particles. This was important to provide additional supporting evidence of the specificity of bio-interaction between the particles and bacteria that is critical for specific detection of the bacteria.
The impact
NPL provided FluoretiQ with important understanding about key characteristics of the beads and parameters of the assay. As a result, the company was able to increase the efficiency of their assay development programme and accelerate aspects of product design. This will reduce the development time of the diagnostic product.