Immunoanalyser for Candida albicans based on the human olfactory function

A novel immunoanalyser system based on the human olfactory function has been developed and successfully applied to immunoassay for Candida albicans. After the immunoreaction of C. albicans and its antibody (IgG), the reaction solution was added gently to a phosphate buffer solution in a conical reaction vessel. The buffer in this vessel was previously saturated with Versalide (1,1,4,4-tetramethyl-6-ethyl-7-acetyl-l,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene) as an odour marker and its odour was sensed by the nose of a tester immediately above the vessel. The addition of a sufficient amount of the reaction solution caused the disappearance of the odour. As the buffer level was raised and the surface area increased, the odour appeared again. A relationship was obtained between the change in buffer level until the odour reappeared and the concentration of C. albicans in the reaction solution. Based on this principle, C. albicans could be determined in the range 10²– 10⁵ cells ml^?1.