The multianalyte capability of the RAPTOR, a rapid, automatic, and portable
fiber optic fluorimeter, was demonstrated. Employing evanescent wave illum
ination an polystyrene fiber optic waveguides, the RAPTOR performed fluores
cent immunoassays for Bacillus globigii spores, ovalbumin, Erwinia herbicol
a, and MS2 coliphage. During a 4-day laboratory trial assaying 144 blind sa
mples, the RAPTOR demonstrated detection of 10(5) cfu/mL B. globigii, 10(7)
cfu/mL. E. herbicola, and 10(9) pfu/mL MS2; ovalbumin detection was less f
avorable than expected due to sample degradation. Assays were completed in
10 min with no sample preprocessing. No false positives were identified. An
tigen carryover between coupons was examined but was not found to elicit a
notable response far any analytes, except B. globigii. Finally, assay resul
ts obtained after reagent and waveguides had completed 30 negative (buffer)
cycles were compared with standard assay results achieved with fresh reage
nt and waveguides to determine whether antigen detection would decrease usi
ng cycled reagent or optical probes. Detection efficacy proved to be unaffe
cted by the use of cycled versus fresh probes or reagent.