Detection of contaminants using self-contained devices employing target material binding dyes

Abstract

A self-contained signal generating device and methods for using and making the same are provided. The device and methods may detect the presence of a number of different substances, such as proteins, and utilizes a target material binding dye, which may precipitate a target material as well as stain it, and/or undergo a detectable change, e.g., an absorption or emission frequency shift, on binding of the substance to be detected.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A self-contained sampling/testing device comprising: 
 a. a sampler for collecting a target material;    b. a sampler washer comprising a wash solution; and    c. a signal generator comprising a dye which binds to said target material to signal the presence of said target material.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an absorbent material, wherein said sampler comprises a porous sample collection pad, and said absorbent material, said sampler, and said sampler washer are configured and arranged such that said sample collection pad can be disposed between said absorbent material and said sampler washer so that said wash solution separates dye bound to said target material immobilized on said sample collection pad from unbound dye.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sampler comprises a porous sample collection pad for collecting said target material, wherein said dye and said wash solution are contained in a reagent tray housing capable of being contacted by said sampler to impart said dye and said wash solution across said target material contained on said sampler.  
     
     
         4 . The device of claims  2  or  3  wherein said dye and said wash solution are contained in a plurality of reservoirs, wherein said reservoirs are serially contacted by said sampler to first expose said target material to said dye and then to wash unbound dye away from bound dye.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  or  3 , further comprising a wetting agent for moistening said sample collection pad in advance of collecting said target material.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein said wetting agent is identical to said wash solution.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said sampler is hollow and wherein said absorbent material is disposed within said sampler to facilitate transport of said dye and said wash solution across said target material or said wash solution is disposed within said sampler.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a reagent housing comprising an additional absorbent material, wherein one of said absorbent materials is saturated with said wash solution, and the other of said absorbent materials is unsaturated, wherein unbound dye from a sample collection surface disposed there between is washed by the flow of said wash solution from said saturated absorbent material to said unsaturated absorbent material.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said dye is transported by said wash solution to said target material to effect said binding.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said dye is separated from a said absorbent material by at least one membrane that is rupturable during the course of a test.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said reagent housing also comprises a cap for protecting said collection pad surface from contamination when not in use.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2  or  3  wherein said dye is a protein binding dye.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said dye is Ponceau-S.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein Ponceau-S is used at a final concentration of about 0.1-1.0% (w/v) in a dilute acetic acid solution.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said dye both precipitates and stains said protein.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein said dye is dry until contacted by said sampler.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a neutralizing agent to neutralize any compounds in the sample that might interfere with the binding of said dye to said target material.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein said neutralizing agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium thiosulfate, MgCl 2 .  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said dye is a frequency shift dye.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein said dye is a colloidal dye.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said dye is a colloidal Coomassie® Brilliant Blue dye.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a reaction reading portion.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said sampler is contained within a lower housing providing protection from pre-testing contamination for said sampler, said device further comprising an upper housing, wherein said upper housing and said lower housing sealably engage, and said sampler is attached to said upper housing.  
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said sampler further comprises 
 a hollow shaft and an absorbent tip;    a chamber housing said combined sample wash signal generator, said chamber further comprising a breakable shaft which upon breakage exposes an orifice through which said combined sample wash signal generator may flow, wherein said chamber is adjoined to a slidably engageable fitting, said fitting having an inner member and an outer member between which a lower housing may slidably engage, wherein said combined sample wash signal generator comprises a frequency shift dye;    a lower housing read portion below said sampler to contain the combined sample wash signal generator, wherein said read portion comprises walls allowing detection of a frequency shift of said dye.    
     
     
         25 . A method for detecting the presence of a target material or contaminant, comprising the steps of: 
 a) obtaining on a sampler of a self-contained sampling/testing device a sample which may contain a target material that is capable of being bound by a dye to signal the presence of the target material; and    b) contacting said sample with said dye;    c) determining whether a color development or color change occurs following said contacting,    wherein said color development or color change is indicative of the presence of said target material in said sample.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising washing said sample with a washing solution.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said dye is a precipitating dye.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25  or  27  wherein said dye is Ponceau-S.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said Ponceau-S is used at a final concentration of about 0.1-1.0% weight-volume in a dilute acetic acid solution.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25  or  27 , wherein said dye precipitates and stains protein.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25  or  27 , further comprising the step of washing said target material from said sampler so that said target material may be analyzed in solution in the presence of dye.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said dye is a frequency shift dye.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said dye is a colloidal dye.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said colloidal dye is colloidal Coomassie® Brilliant Blue dye.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said wash solution participates in the collection of said target material by said sampler.  
     
     
         36 . A method of making a self-contained sampling/testing device comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a device comprising at least one reservoir, a sampler, and a housing;    b) depositing a dye within a said reservoir; and    c) depositing a wash solution with a said reservoir.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said dye binds protein.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said dye is a precipitating dye.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said dye is Ponceau-S.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein Ponceau-S is used at a final concentration of about 0.1-1.0% (w/v) in a dilute acetic acid solution.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said dye is a colloidal dye.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said colloidal dye is colloidal Coomassie® blue dye.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said dye is frequency shift dye.  
     
     
         44 . A method of using a precipitating dye to fix a target material in a porous matrix such that said target material is resistant to migration outside of said matrix on treatment with said dye as compared to the migration of said target material in the absence of said dye, comprising the step of: 
 contacting a liquefied sample containing said target material in said porous matrix with a precipitating dye, wherein said porous material permits entry of said target material and binding of said dye to said target material inhibits egress of said target material from said porous material.    
     
     
         45 . The method of claims  44 , wherein said target material is protein.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said dye is a sulfonated diazo dye.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said sulfonated diazo dye is Ponceau-S.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said Ponceau-S is used at a final concentration of about 0.1-1.0% (w/v) in a dilute acetic acid solution.  
     
     
         49 . A method for detecting a target material in a sample, comprising the steps of: 
 immobilizing target material/dye complexes from a liquefied sample in or on a solid matrix, wherein said dye is a precipitating dye; and    washing unbound dye from said solid matrix with a wash solution,    wherein the presence of a greater amount of dye retained in said porous matrix following said washing as compared to the amount of dye retained in said porous matrix in the absence of a sample is indicative of the presence of target material in said sample.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said solid matrix is a porous matrix and said immobilizing is entrapment of said complexes in said porous matrix.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said sample is contacted with said dye in solution and deposited on or in said solid matrix.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said sample is contacted with said dye in or on said solid matrix.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said entrapment results from binding of said dye to said target material.  
     
     
         54 . The method of claims  49 , wherein said target material is protein.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said dye is a sulfonated diazo dye.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said sulfonated diazo dye is Ponceau-S.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said Ponceau-S is used at a final concentration of about 0.1-1.0% (w/v) in a dilute acetic acid solution.  
     
     
         58 . A method for detecting protein on a solid surface, comprising the step of: 
 contacting said surface with a Ponceau S dye solution; and    determining whether said dye is retained on said surface,    wherein if dye from said solution is retained on said surface it is indicative of the presence of protein on said surface.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said surface is washed with a wash solution following said contacting and before said determining.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein said Ponceau-S is used at a final concentration of about 0.1-1.0% (w/v) in a dilute acetic acid solution