Building an Endotoxin Detection Home Test Kit

Overview

Objectives/Goals Goal 1-Find a filter paper that can be used for a dipstick test Goal 2-Make a color graduating test so that if there is more endotoxin, the shade of yellow would be darker and if there is less endotoxin, then the shade of yellow would be lighter Goal 3-The test must be quick and easy to use Goal 4-The test must have a negative control embedded into the paper so not to show a false positive Goal 5-The test must be able to work at different temperatures Goal 6-The test must be able to work in the real world, i.e with ready-to-eat salad Methods/Materials endotoxin (dead E. coli and Salmonella) Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) Chromogenic Assay Deionized water Pyrogen-free test tubes Serological pipettes Micro-pipettors Micro-pipette tips Reagent water 5 different types of filter paper Cambrex LAL test kit 2 different brands of Ready To Eat Salad Results The test (filter paper) did turn yellow in the presence of endotoxin. The color change also corresponded to the amount of endotoxin detected. When there was more endotoxin detected, the yellow color change was darker, when there was less endotoxin detected the color change was lighter. Conclusions/Discussion I was successful in building a prototype that can be used at home to detect endotoxin (presence of Salmonella, E.coli) . Furthermore, I did meet all of my goals.

Awards (1)

• First Place

Competition history

• CSEF 2008 Product Science (Biological) (Junior Division Only) · Entry J1803

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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