PrimeAlert®
The Prime Alert® System detects any type of DNA-based microbial or cellular material, not just anthrax or other biothreat DNA. The test is not specific to an individual organism and only indicates if the sample contains DNA or some types of RNA.
Availability: Commercially Available
| Manufacturer |
| GenPrime, Inc. |
| Product Name |
| PrimeAlert® |
| Detection Category |
| Biological |
| Detection Principle |
| Immunological; |
| Detection Method |
| Lateral Flow Hand Held Immunoassay; |
| Application |
| Detection; |
| Equipment Type |
| Instrument |
| Product Synopsis |
| The Prime Alert® System detects any type of DNA-based microbial or cellular material, not just anthrax or other biothreat DNA. The test is not specific to an individual organism and only indicates if the sample contains DNA or some types of RNA. |
| Availability |
| Commercially Available |
| Technology Readiness Level (TRL) |
| 9 |
| Market Entry Date |
| 2002 |
| User Feedback Sources |
| Indifferent/No user feedback |
| Supporting Documentation |
| Docs: GenPrime-PrimeAlert.pdf; |
| Dimensions |
| Reader: 7.1 x 1.6 x 3.5 in (18 x 4 x 9 cm). Individual microbe screen: 3.2 x 4.8 x 1.2 in (8 x 12 x 3cm). Individual toxin screen: 1.2 x 3.2 x 0.2in (3 x 8 x 0.5cm). |
| Weight |
| <1 lb.; <30 lbs.; 1 lbs (0.45 kg) (optical reader); 12 lbs (5 kg) (complete kit) |
| Power Requirements |
| Alkaline Battery; 4 AAA batteries (2000+ readings) |
| Transportability |
| Pocket Size |
| Operating Conditions |
| 4 to 40°C (40 to 105°F) |
| Consumables |
| >$1,000/year; Toxin screen kits ($125), spatulas, scoops and sampling forceps |
| Solvents/Reagents |
| Cell prep solution, dye solution. |
| Calibration Schedule |
| Daily |
| Suggested Routine Maintenance |
| In the event of a positive screen result, the external surface of the Prime Alert Reader can be decontaminated with decontamination solution |
| Available Accessories |
| Prime Alert includes 5 individual sampling assay kits (microbe screen and toxin screen) and contains all the sampling tools needed. GP520 reader ($10,500) |
| Communications Interface |
| RS232 |
| Expected Operational Life |
| Indefinite for optical reader |
| Shelf Life |
| <1 year |
| Unit Cost |
| $12,000.00 starter kit |
| Tested For Biological Agents |
| Ricin, Botulinum toxin, Staphylococcus Enterotoxin B (SEB), F. tularensis (Tularemia), Y. pestis (Plague) |
| Other Biological Targets |
| Brucellosis, cholera, diphtheria, glanders, melioidosis, psittacosis, Q fever, salmonellosis, typhoid fever |
| Adaptability |
| No; cannot detect or add new targets |
| Sample Introduction |
| Liquid; Solid |
| Sensitivity/Detection Limits |
| 100,000 to 1 million spores |
| Known Interferents/Inhibitors |
| Susceptible to fluorescent quenching media |
| False Positive Rates |
| 4% for Microbe Screen and 1% for Toxin Screen |
| False Negative Rates |
| 0% at sensitivity threshold for Microbe and Toxin Screens |
| Start Up Time (From Cold Start To Sample Ready) |
| 2 minutes |
| Response Time (Sample Application To Output) |
| <15 minutes; 10 minutes |
| Total Run Time |
| 15 minutes |
| Alarm Capability |
| Visible |
| Software Control |
| On-board |
| Training Required |
| <1 day training |
| Training Available |
| Yes |
| Manuals Available |
| Yes |
| Reachback Service |
| No |
| Warranties |
| 1 year |
| ITAR/EAR Export Regulations |
| No; Exports globally to controlled countries |
| Data File Type Format |
| CSV |
