A Handy Field Portable ELISA-system for Rapid Onsite Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are considered the gold standard in the demonstration of various immunological reactions with an application in the detection of infectious diseases such as during outbreaks or in the care of individual patients. To be useful in the timely implementation of prevention and control measures against infectious diseases, a diagnostic modality should be rapid, accurate and affordable. In this study, we demonstrate the efficiency (90% less in time and volume consumption compared to 96-well ELISA), detection capacity and ease in operation of a field portable battery operated ELISA-system, about the size of a cellular phone (12 × 6 × 5.5 cm) in the serological diagnosis of Measles and Rubella virus with potential for onsite testing such as during disease outbreaks.