Selective detection of bacteria in urine with a long-range surface plasmon waveguide biosensor.

Experimentation demonstrates long-range surface plasmon polariton waveguides as a useful biosensor to selectively detect gram negative or gram positive bacteria in human urine having a low concentration of constituents. The biosensor can detect bacteria at concentrations of 10(5) CFU/ml, the internationally recommended threshold for diagnostic of urinary tract infection. Using a negative control urine solution of bacterial concentration 1000☓ higher than the targeted bacteria, we obtain a ratio of 5.4 for the positive to negative signals.