Development of Surface Plasmonic Biosensor for Rapid and Large-scale Diagnosis of Hepatitis A

Introduction: In Brazil, the improvements in sanitary conditions and the recent inclusion of hepatitis A vaccine resulted in an increase in the number of individuals susceptible to the disease. These facts together with the circulation of the virus in the environment, increases the occurrence of epidemic outbreaks. Therefore, a test that enables a rapid and large-scale diagnosis of acute cases may be a promising alternative to the currently available immunoenzymatic assays. In this way, Biosensor assay may help in the adoption of appropriate measures to contain hepatitis A outbreaks, as well as, in the detection of susceptible individuals involved in the outbreak that may be candidates for vaccination, avoiding the spread of the infection