Lab-free biogel test detects bacteria in multiple fluids

Developed by engineers and biochemists at McMaster University in Canada, the test has been developed for use by non-specialist users.

The test uses bacteriophages embedded in the gel to locate target bacteria in a sample of fluid such as lake water, urine or a container of milk, even in low concentrations.

Bacteriophages are the most abundant form of life on Earth. Also known as phages, bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate only in bacterial cells. 

In the test, phages find and attack the target bacteria in a sample, causing the bacteria to release microscopic amounts of intracellular material which the test can read, triggering a visible colour change. If the sample is clean, the colour stays the same.

The new process takes hours, producing results more quickly than lab cultures, which can take two days to generate results.

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In a statement, Zeinab Hosseinidoust, an associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, said: “We’ve been using phages’ destructive power to kill bacteria and resolve infections for years. Here, we’re channelling that power in another way. Because phages can burst bacteria open, they can give us quick access to the biological components of those bacteria that we use to confirm their presence.”