Interferometric detection and quantification system and methods of use in food processing and food supply chain

1. A portable interferometric system for detection and quantification of analyte within a food processing test sample composition, the system comprising:

an optical assembly unit, the optical assembly unit comprising a light unit and a detector unit each adapted to fit within a portable housing unit;

a cartridge system adapted to be inserted in the housing unit and removed after one or more uses, the cartridge system comprising:

an interferometric chip including one or more waveguide channels having a sensing layer thereon, the sensing layer adapted to selectively bind or otherwise be selectively disturbed by one or more analytes within the food processing test sample composition;

a flow cell wafer; and

a cartridge housing enclosing the interferometric chip and flow cell wafer; and

an alignment means for aligning the cartridge system within a cartridge recess in the optical assembly unit upon insertion thereby providing optical and microfluidic alignment of the interferometric chip and flow cell wafer.

2. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , wherein the portable housing is sized and shaped to fit in a user's hand.

3. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one display unit.

4. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , further comprising an external camera, the external camera adapted to capture a photo or video.

5. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , the alignment means comprising at least one male key portion on an exterior surface of the cartridge housing for engaging and securing the cartridge within a corresponding female rail of the optical assembly unit.

6. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , wherein the sensing layer comprises one or more antigens, antibodies, DNA microarrays, polypeptides, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, or molecularly imprinted polymers, or immunoglobulins suitable for binding one or more analytes within a food processing test sample composition.

7. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , configured to analyze the light signals from two or more waveguide channels to detect the presence of an analyte that individual waveguides channels could not have detected alone.

8. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more waveguide flow channels each comprises a different sensitive layer to allow the system to detect different analytes on each waveguide flow channel.

9. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , wherein the sensitive layer is configured to bind one or more antibodies, virus antigens, virus proteins, bacteria, fungi, pathogen, RNA, chemical, mRNA or any combination thereof.

10. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , having an analyte detection limit down to about 1.0 picogram/L.

11. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , having an analyte detection limit down to about 1000 pfu/ml.

12. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , wherein the detector has sensitivity to at least 2 pixels per diffraction line pair.

13. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , further comprising a location means adapted to determine the physical location of the system.

14. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , wherein the analyte is one or more of 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), dicamba (2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid), butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, recombinant bovine growth hormone, sodium aluminum sulfate, potassium aluminum, sulfate, bisphenol-A (BPA), sodium nitrite/nitrate, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic amines, acrylamide, brominated vegetable oil, artificial food coloring/dyes, and dioxins.

15. A method of detecting and quantifying the level of analyte in a food processing test sample composition, the method comprising the steps of:

collecting a food processing target sample containing one or more analytes;

introducing the food processing, target sample to the portable interferometric system of claim 1 ;

initiating waveguide interferometry on the test sample composition; and

processing any data resulting from the waveguide interferometry.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of transmitting data includes wirelessly transmitting analyte detection and quantification data to a mobile device or server.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of displaying data related to the presence of analyte in the test sample composition on the display unit.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the food processing target sample is taken from a foodstuff, packaging, processing fluid, tank, vessel, food processing equipment, food storage equipment, or water, soil or air within or surrounding a food processing environment.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the food processing target sample is in the form of, dissolved in, or suspended in a liquid or a gas.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the data resulting from the waveguide interferometry is provided at or under 30 minutes.

21. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

entering an identification associated with the target sample;

mixing the target sample with a buffer solution to form a food processing test sample composition; and

transmitting any data resulting from the waveguide interferometry.

22. The portable interferometric system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge housing comprises a vent port for allowing air to exit and prevent bubble formation.