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. 2010 Mar 23;5(5):875-81.
doi: 10.1007/s11671-010-9578-1.

A novel quantum dots-based point of care test for syphilis

Hao Yang  1 , Ding Li, Rong He, Qin Guo, Kan Wang, Xueqing Zhang, Peng Huang, Daxiang Cui
Affiliations

A novel quantum dots-based point of care test for syphilis

Hao Yang et al. Nanoscale Res Lett. .

Abstract

One-step lateral flow test is recommended as the first line screening of syphilis for primary healthcare settings in developing countries. However, it generally shows low sensitivity. We describe here the development of a novel fluorescent POC (Point Of Care) test method to be used for screening for syphilis. The method was designed to combine the rapidness of lateral flow test and sensitiveness of fluorescent method. 50 syphilis-positive specimens and 50 healthy specimens conformed by Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) were tested with Quantum Dot-labeled and colloidal gold-labeled lateral flow test strips, respectively. The results showed that both sensitivity and specificity of the quantum dots-based method reached up to 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 91-100%), while those of the colloidal gold-based method were 82% (95% CI, 68-91%) and 100% (95% CI, 91-100%), respectively. In addition, the naked-eye detection limit of quantum dot-based method could achieve 2 ng/ml of anti-TP47 polyclonal antibodies purified by affinity chromatography with TP47 antigen, which was tenfold higher than that of colloidal gold-based method. In conclusion, the quantum dots were found to be suitable for labels of lateral flow test strip. Its ease of use, sensitiveness and low cost make it well-suited for population-based on-the-site syphilis screening.

Keywords: Diagnostics; Lateral flow; Nanomaterial; Quantum dots; Syphilis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The schematic drawing of QD-based lateral flow test strips
Figure 2
Figure 2
Characterization of QDs (a) and colloidal gold (b) by transmission electron microscopy
Figure 3
Figure 3
Size distributions of QDs (a) and colloidal gold (b)
Figure 4
Figure 4
UV–vis absorption spectra (a) and PL spectra (b) of QDs
Figure 5
Figure 5
Result of detection of clinical specimens by colloidal gold and QDs. result of detection by colloidal gold: 1 positive; 2 negative; 3 weak positive; result of detection by QDs: 4 positive; 5 negative; 6 weak positive
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