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Bio-Detector Scans For 3,000 Viruses and Bacteria

Posted by timothy on from the can't-we-send-it-to-mars-and-settle-this? dept.

separsons writes "Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory recently unveiled a three-inch-long bio-detector than can scan for 3,000 different types of viruses and bacteria in just 24 hours. The device, dubbed the Lawrence Livermore Microbial Detection Array (LLMDA), boasts significant advantages over traditional bio-detectors, which can only identify a maximum of 50 pathogens. The three-inch-long glass slide is packed with 388,000 probes that can detect more than 2,000 viruses and 900 bacteria. The device may have huge implications in identifying agents released during biological and chemical attacks. Plus, in more everyday uses, LLMDA can ensure food, drug and vaccine safety and help diagnose medical problems. Scientists' next version of LLMDA is even more impressive: A new bio-detector will be lined with 2.1 million probes that can scan for 5,700 viruses and thousands of bacteria as well as fungi and protozoa."

17 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. What biological and chemical attacks? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

  2. Huge implications by MrMr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The device may have huge implications in identifying agents released during biological and chemical attacks
    Yes, don't we all just hate those attacks we're suffering all the time. Finally the LLNL is spending money where it's really needed.

    1. Re:Huge implications by Rogerborg · · Score: 2, Informative

      The device may have huge implications in identifying Agents who release biological and chemical attacks

      Fixed that for them. AFAICT, the only biological attacks in the USA have been made by Federal employees.

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    2. Re:Huge implications by bcmm · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's just how you sell that sort of thing in today's climate. National security is much more interesting than public health, for some reason.

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    3. Re:Huge implications by GooberToo · · Score: 2, Informative

      Fixed that for them. AFAICT, the only biological attacks in the USA have been made by Federal employees.

      Then what you know is wrong. Another who has worked in the same lab and is no longer restricted by his contract has come forward and stated is would be impossible for the Anthrax to have been made there. Furthermore, the DNA of the Anthrax was proved to not have come from that facility; though likely to be very closely related. According to the co-worker, it would have taken him years and the majority of the lab to have manufactured that much Anthrax in that tiny lab. As such, it is literally impossible for him to have created it.

      As a result of the wrongful accusations, he committed suicide and ignorance is working hard to continue those wrongful accusations. Literally, the only thing those accusations indicate is that the FBI is a bunch of incompetence looking to get the heat off of themselves. And the only thing worse then their incompetence is those who would ignorantly repeat those accusations.

      If you're not talking about the Anthrax cases, then I have no idea what you're talking about. If this is the case, accordingly, please educated me while I'm shutt'n the F up. Otherwise, stop repeating completely false accusations.

    4. Re:Huge implications by mangu · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I do believe there's a major ecological disaster underway right now in the Gulf of Mexico teaching us this lesson right now

      Oil spills have happened many times before, check wikipedia for a start. Now give me one example of an intentional biological attack that had any significant consequences.

      They might as well design defenses against an attack of pink unicorns, it has never happened before, but that's not reason to ignore the danger, right?

    5. Re:Huge implications by PNutts · · Score: 2, Informative

      AFAICT, the only biological attacks in the USA have been made by Federal employees.

      Google is a good substitute if you can't actually go outside: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1613/is_2_16/ai_n29353152/ Unfortunately, when looking at an overrated post there is no good substitute for no mod points.

  3. Re:MDA by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Let's just call it the Microbial Detection Array. I mean, thanks a lot Lawrence Livermore, really, but do you really want a bunch of people going around saying "lambda" because that's how they're pronouncing that crazy acronym?

    It's about funding. The next time the funding for Lawrence Livermore comes up in Congress, it helps to have someone who can say: "Ah, yes, I have heard of them. Um, they make that detector . . . which I don't really understand what it does."

    That's why they need their name in the device.

    Ok, Microbial Detection Array sounds good shortened to MDA . . . or better yet iMDA.

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  4. No fun for doctors by hey · · Score: 3, Interesting

    In the olden days (now) a doctor would examine at you and see what virus you probably had then order tests. But tomorrow if they can just scan for everything there's no need for doctors. :(

    1. Re:No fun for doctors by Low+Ranked+Craig · · Score: 2, Interesting

      One step closer to Larry Niven's Autodoc.

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  5. A consumer version? by NicknamesAreStupid · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Mom might finally feel comfortable eating out.

    1. Re:A consumer version? by misexistentialist · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Actually an at home STD test kit isn't a bad idea

  6. form factor by electricprof · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have this fear that it's current size will inevitably lead to a portable ... err ... insertable version ...

  7. Probiotics? by Darth+Cider · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I hope they consider the effects of beneficial bacterial flora in the body and create an array that can test for them too. It would be interesting to compare symbiotic cultures that reduce the effect of pathogens. (Now that antibiotics are so much less effective. Let the bacteria duke it out among themselves.)

  8. 24 hours? by TooMad · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How is that useful in a biological or chemical attack? 11:05pm attack occurs, 11:06pm you've received lethal exposure to the biological attack, 11:05pm the next day...yep you're going to die to weaponized small pox alright. Or they could just use a chemical agent. After 24 hours they detect neither virus nor bacteria. Even if they could detect a chemical attack generally kills in a lot less than 24 hours. How is this device even remarkable at all? If I bought 388,000 cable subscriptions I could totally DVR 776,000 shows at once is that any more significant?

  9. What a choice in names by Alpha232 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Obviously anyone with half a brain cell would have named it

    Lawrence Livermore Array for Microbial Assessment (LLAMA)

  10. In related news... by Alsee · · Score: 2, Funny

    Gregory House has a new career as an ice cream truck driver, serving up abuse and sexual innuendo for ten year old kids.

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