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Southampton researchers develop novel method for detecting vCJD prions on surgical instruments

September 26, 2002

Researchers from the University of Southampton, together with Surrey-based diagnostics company, Microgen Bioproducts Limited, and microscopy specialists, Best Scientific of Swindon, are developing important new methods for detecting prions- the proteins implicated in sporadic and variant Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD) - on surgical instruments.

Prion proteins have been shown to resist the conventional methods of decontamination, cleaning and sterilisation used in the recycling of surgical instruments, raising concerns about the potential danger of prion transmission through their re-use.

New decontamination, cleaning and sterilisation methods have been proposed and in order to confirm that these are indeed capable of removing any residual prion proteins from recycled surgical instruments, new prion detection methods are needed.

The Southampton team, led by Professor Bill Keevil, has developed a novel microscopy method capable of detecting minute amounts of protein on the surface of surgical instruments. With funding from the Department of Health, they will now investigate the use of new chemical markers or `reagents` to specifically detect residual prion proteins attached to the surface of surgical instruments.
Professor Keevil said: `Current epidemiological and research evidence suggests that the risk of infective prion transmission from CJD patients to other humans may be very low; nevertheless, infective prion agents constitute a serious bio-medical hazard. For example, a proven but thankfully very rare route of infection involves contaminated surgical instruments, particularly those in contact with neural tissues.

`Our initial studies have shown our new fluorescent diagnostic procedures to be highly sensitive, with preliminary results indicating a detection level of less than 1 picogram of prion on stainless steel surfaces. This breakthrough in detection technology will provide a highly sensitive means to determine the cleanliness of surgical instruments before reuse and assess the effectiveness of cleaning procedures.`

The University team has worked closely with Best Scientific in defining the microscopy requirements to diagnose surface contamination of prions on surgical instruments and other opaque materials.

Microgen Bioproducts is planning to produce packs containing new prion specific reagents for use in conjunction with the novel microscope.

A patent application has been lodged on this technology.

Southampton, University of