Abstract: A method of testing milk samples for the presence of pathogens. Sample day milk may be processed using specific reagents for the detection of pathogens and then subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using multi-well plates for fast and accurate detection of the presence of nucleotides from specific pathogens. The sample day milk can be collected non-aseptically without compromising the accuracy of the detection results.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for the detection of ribosome inactivating protein activity, including the ricin toxin, in a sample. According to one embodiment, the ribosome inactivating protein in the sample removes an adenine from a labeled DNA substrate to create an abasic site. An AP lyase can then cleave the DNA substrate at the abasic site, allowing the fluorophore located at or near one end of the DNA substrate and the quencher at or near the other end of the DNA substrate to spatially separate. Once the fluorophore and the quencher are sufficiently separated, the fluorophore will emit a fluorescence signal. Increasing fluorescence, indicating ribosome inactivating protein activity, will be monitored in real time using a detection system.