Patent ID: 7981634
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of positively detecting toxic materials within a sample, the method comprising: contacting sub-mitochondrial particles including enzymatically active enzymes involved in an electron transfer system of mitochondria and an electron donor which transmits electrons to an electron transfer system of the sub-mitochondrial particles, with the sample to be tested; providing a pH indicator, wherein the pH indicator is selected from the group consisting of bromocresol purple, bromothymol blue, phenol red, thymol blue and phenolphthalein; adding an acid or base solution to the pH indicator to adjust a pH of the pH indicator to a pH in the range of about 9 to 11; adding the pH adjusted indicator to a mixture including the sub-mitochondrial particles and the sample obtained from the contacting; and identifying color changes of the pH indicator, wherein the identifying color changes correlates to detecting toxic materials within the sample when a color of the pH indicator changes.