WHOLE BLOOD ROBOTIC CHOLINESTERASE ASSAY FOR ORGANOPHOSPHATE EXPOSURE - TESTING SOLDIERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND CIVILIANS IN THE FIELD AND LABORATORY

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Whole Blood (WRAIR WB, U.S. Patent #6,746,850, 2004) cholinesterase assay (a) rapidly determines the activity of both AChE and BChE in unprocessed (uncentrifuged) whole blood, (b) uses a minimally invasive blood sampling technique (e.g., blood from a finger prick), and (c) is semi-automated for high-throughput using the Biomek 2000 robotic system (see Figure 1). The method measures ChE activity in whole blood in the presence of the chro-mophore 4, 4' dithidiopyridine (DTP) and three thiocholine substrates, from which the individual AChE and BChE activities are calculated.

Due to the documented use of OPs by terrorists and in warfare around the globe, Federal, State, and local authorities need a reliable, fast, inexpensive, and standard method for confirming such an assault in order to initiate appropriate containment, decontamination, and treatment measures. Thus, the WRAIR whole blood cholinesterase assay, with its high-throughput robotic capability, is ideal for prescreening military personnel for ChE activities that might preclude their deployment to areas of potential CWA exposure. This assay fulfills the requirement for rapid and reliable monitoring of OP exposure in military and civilian populations.