QuikTest™ Bioscreen

In recent years, the number of white powder incidents has grown dramatically. In some areas, powder threats occur frequently, creating tremendous disruption and expense. The QuikTest™ Bioscreen kit is designed to help first responders quickly determine whether a suspicious powder may contain a bioterror agent. The kit can rule out the presence of pathogens or toxins in just five minutes, enabling public safety personnel to immediately screen for potential biothreats in the field before a definitive assessment can be made through laboratory testing.

Principle

The product works primarily by using PurpleHaze™ Technology to identify protein, which is found in all living material. All biowarfare agents, including anthrax and ricin, contain protein. Many harmless substances often mistaken to be potential bioterror agents, such as powdered sugar, drywall dust, cornstarch, and many cosmetics, do not contain protein. QuikTest™ also includes a pH test that provides additional information about the sample, as harmful pathogens and toxins tend to be pH neutral.

Method

The protocol is fast and easy to perform. Samples of the suspicious powder are collected using two chemically treated swabs – one for a protein test and one to measure pH levels – and placed within color-coded test tubes. Each test produces a color change in the solution within five minutes if protein is present or if the sample is acidic or basic.

Reading QuikTest Kit Results

Interpreting test results is simple. Within five minutes, one of three results will display, enabling first responders to determine whether a substance represents a potential threat that requires further laboratory testing.