Mesa Tech International Inc. of Santa Fe is developing a “DNA dipstick” to detect food pathogens.  In contrast with today’s laboratory culture methods, the dipstick will allow fast and accurate detection in a hand-held and battery operated device.

Developed at LANL, the technology is expected to detect multiple pathogens at once.  Mesa Tech’s research on food pathogen detection will compliment research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for diagnosis of infections and genetic disease in humans, and by the Citrus Research Board for bacterial and viral infections of agricultural crops.

The project team includes Dr. R. Bruce Cary, a LANL employee on Entrepreneurial Leave of Absence; Dr. Hong Cai, a former LANL employee; Marc De John; Pat Turner and Dr. John Elling. According to Elling, "The funding will allow Mesa Tech to explore new testing applications beyond the goals of the current grant and contract funding."