Recent Articles
Mobile Image Ratiometry for the Detection of Botrytis Cinerea (Gray Mold)
Published: Nature Precedings on March 14, 2012
Mobile Platform Informatics (MPI) and Smartphone Informatics (SPI) methods like Mobile Image Ratiometry
(MIR) are potentially transformative point-of-use instantaneous analysis tools that are useful across a variety
of industries. In agriculture, MIR-compatible immuno test strips allow early detection of a number of biotic
stressors before devastating crop losses occur. Here we describe a low-cost and easy-to-use Smartphone
and/or tablet-based protocol (Mobile Assay Inc.) for the detection and on-sight
instantaneous analysis of B. cinerea, a fungus that causes significant damage to a variety of plants and flowers.
Early detection and tracking of the B. cinerea fungus before the visible gray mold appears has the potential to
increase agricultural productivity especially in the developing world.
Mobile Image Ratiometry: A New Method for Instantaneous Analysis of Rapid Test Strips
Published: Nature Precedings on January 24th, 2012
Here we describe Mobile Image Ratiometry (MIR), a new method for the automated quantification of standardized
rapid immunoassay strips using consumer-based mobile smartphone and tablet cameras. To demonstrate MIR, we
developed a standardized method using rapid immunotest strips directed against cocaine (COC) and its major
metabolite, benzoylecgonine (BE). We performed image analysis of three brands of commercially available
dye-conjugated anti-COC/BE antibody test strips in response to three different series of cocaine concentrations
ranging from 0.1 to 300 ng/ml and BE concentrations ranging from 0.003 to 0.1 ng/ml. These data were then used
to create standard curves to allow quantification of COC/BE in biological samples. MIR quantification of COC
and BE proved to be a sensitive, economical, and faster alternative to more costly methods, such as gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry, tandem mass spectrometry, or high pressure liquid chromatography. MIR is a
valuable tool that provides instant data acquisition, tracking and analysis for the emerging field of
mobile platform informatics (MPI) and smartphone informatics (SPI).