Open AccessQuantitative Point-of-Care Colorimetric Assay Modeling Using a Handheld Colorimeter
Author(s) -
Kristen Abels,
Elizabeth M. Salvo-Halloran,
Dawn White,
M. Monsur Ali,
Nisha Rani Agarwal,
Vincent Leung,
M. Monsur Ali,
Mariam Sidawi,
Alfredo Capretta,
John D. Brennan,
Jake Nease,
Carlos D. M. Filipe
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs omega
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.779
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2470-1343
DOI - 10.1021/acsomega.1c03460
Subject(s) - colorimeter , analyte , colorimetry , mobile device , point of care , computer science , chromatography , chemistry , medicine , physics , nursing , quantum mechanics , operating system
Colorimetric assays typically offer a rapid and convenient method to assess analytes that span healthcare monitoring to water quality testing. However, such tests can only provide qualitative results when employed in resource-limited settings or require bulky and expensive equipment such as lab spectrophotometers to allow quantitative measurements. In this paper, we report on the use of a handheld colorimeter to quantitatively determine the concentration of analytes in a manner that is independent of ambient lighting or initial sample color. The method combines the response of the sensor with first-principles modeling that better describes the nature of the assay compared to linear-in-parameters regression modeling that is typically performed in other studies. This method was successfully demonstrated using a number of colorimetric assays: (1) determination of solution pH using a universal indicator, (2) quantification of the DNase presence using a DNA-gold nanoparticle assay, and (3) quantification of the concentration of the antibiotic tetracycline using a cell-based assay.