Handheld Isothermal Silver Standard Sensor (HISSS)

The goal of the Handheld Isothermal Silver Standard Sensor (HISSS) program is to develop a handheld sensor that is capable of identifying biological weapon threats across the entire threat spectrum including bacteria, viruses and toxins. The HISSS sensor will be based on isothermal technologies that hold the promise of allowing silver-standard quality identification in a small, low-logistics package. This approach will allow DNA detection without PCR; RNA detection without PCR or reverse transcription; and antibody-based protein detection at heretofore unachievable sensitivity. This will give units in the field the capability to detect the complete spectrum of threat agents at the same level of performance currently achieved in the laboratory.