In Russia, state tests of two types of automated detectors-identifiers of pathogenic organisms in the air-have been completed. The devices can detect more than 80 infectious disease pathogens simultaneously, including COVID-19 coronavirus. The mobile version of the devices can monitor biological hazards in crowded areas: train stations, airports, and metro stations. Both devices operate without human intervention and can display diagnostic information on external video screens.

The designers implemented 2 modes of automatic laboratories. In the first mode, the air is continuously analyzed for the presence of dangerous aerosol particles – the offline period of operation in this mode is 7 days.

In the second mode of operation, a trigger is used – a mechanism that triggers the identification of pathogens only if the concentration of harmful particles in the air exceeds a certain threshold. In this case, the Autonomous operation period is more than 30 days.

These devices are equipped with regular batteries for autonomous emergency power supply to maintain operation in conditions of unstable power supply.

Development phase

The story of the creation of the instrument began in 2015. Russia’s Ministry of Health has developed technical specifications for creating automatic immunochemical analysis devices for detecting and identifying harmful biological agents.

By that time, there was a need for mobile sensitive devices that could monitor the air environment offline. Rapid detection and identification of pathogens would allow timely response to the epidemic and human-made threats.

At the development stage of the preliminary design, patent studies of existing similar devices or their prototypes were conducted. Only a few of them were able to work offline. Moreover, none of the existing devices did meet all the goals set.

As a result of the patent analysis, a set of ideas for integrating individual elements of future devices was formed. Developers have identified potentially useful technical and technological solutions.

From 2015 to 2017, experimental design work was carried out by the Lomonosov Moscow State University. As a result of state tests, the possibility of creating devices that meet the requirements of the technical specification was confirmed.

Further, the devices were developed by the Gamalei research Institute of epidemiology and Microbiology, the Institute of theoretical and experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the ROSTECH state corporation.

The result of this collaboration is mobile laboratories that can detect concentrations and identify dangerous pathogenic agents in the air within 30 minutes. In June 2020, state tests of the devices were completed, and pilot operation was carried out at one of the manufacturer’s passageways.

Currently, the certification process is going. After that, the plant is ready to start mass production in the amount necessary to ensure biological safety.

Design feature

Automatic biological laboratory “Detector-BIO”

The device is designed for automatic indication and identification of viruses, bacteria, and toxins in the air.

The operation model of the device is based on two independent methods of analysis. First: a nucleic acid analysis based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). Second: immunofluorescence method in the format of a suspension biochip. This multiplex immunological analysis reduces the number of false positives to 1*10-8. A single-use sealed chip is used for PCR analysis to avoid contamination by foreign agents. The chip is made in the form factor of a flat tube (the base area is 35*35 mm, and the height is 3 mm). This chip format reduces PCR analysis time by accelerating the cooling-heating cycle.

“Detector-BIO” is operating in several stages. First, the detector collects and concentrates aerosol particles from air samples. Then the collected biological agents are transferred to an aqueous solution. Then ultrasonic cleaning of the solution from impurities is carried out. Then the pathogenic agents are identified, and the results are processed programmatically.

The device can archive aerosol samples for subsequent laboratory analysis.

Automatic biological laboratory “Efir-BIO”

The device is designed for automatic indication and identification of virus antigens.

The principle of operation of  “Efir-BIO” and design features are very similar to “Detector-BIO.” There are differences in the diagnostic test system. Ether-BIO also uses a planar immune chip. However, the reagents used contain virus antigens.

Conclusion

Currently, prototypes of the “Detector-BIO” and “Efir-BIO” devices are being tested at the National center for biological risks.

Serial production of automatic laboratories allows us to continuously monitor the state of the environment during periods of the epidemic rise in morbidity and quickly detect biological hazards.

 

Sources:

https://rostec.ru/news/rostekh-ispytal-ustroystva-dlya-vyyavleniya-koronavirusa-v-vozdukhe/

https://rostec.ru/news/rostekh-pokazal-pribor-vyyavlyayushchiy-koronavirus-v-vozdukhe/

https://ria.ru/20200827/pribor-1576361483.html

https://istina.msu.ru/projects/19735781/

http://www.analizator.ru/production/pcr/detector-bio/

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