The safety reflectors found on posts, bikes and sneakers could play an
important new role in detecting bioterrorism attacks as well as everyday
infectious diseases.
Retroreflectors are one of the most visually detectable man-made devices, able to reflect light back to its source with extreme brightness. By creating retroreflectors small enough for 200 of them to fit inside the dot over an ‘i’, the research team was able to incorporate them into a microfluidic device. When a fluid sample free of bacteria or virus flows through the channels, the retroreflectors shine brightly. However, bacteria-laden samples will cause areas of the reflectors to go dark, providing a quick, visual cue easily detected with simple optical devices.
Currently, the device is able to test for seven pathogens at once, but the team has plans to increase that capacity.
Retroreflectors are one of the most visually detectable man-made devices, able to reflect light back to its source with extreme brightness. By creating retroreflectors small enough for 200 of them to fit inside the dot over an ‘i’, the research team was able to incorporate them into a microfluidic device. When a fluid sample free of bacteria or virus flows through the channels, the retroreflectors shine brightly. However, bacteria-laden samples will cause areas of the reflectors to go dark, providing a quick, visual cue easily detected with simple optical devices.
Currently, the device is able to test for seven pathogens at once, but the team has plans to increase that capacity.
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