Issue 12, 2008

Towards non- and minimally instrumented, microfluidics-based diagnostic devices

Abstract

In many health care settings, it is uneconomical, impractical, or unaffordable to maintain and access a fully equipped diagnostics laboratory. Examples include home health care, developing-country health care, and emergency situations in which first responders are dealing with pandemics or biowarfare agent release. In those settings, fully disposable diagnostic devices that require no instrument support, reagent, or significant training are well suited. Although the only such technology to have found widespread adoption so far is the immunochromatographic rapid assay strip test, microfluidics holds promise to expand the range of assay technologies that can be performed in formats similar to that of a strip test. In this paper, we review progress toward development of disposable, low-cost, easy-to-use microfluidics-based diagnostics that require no instrument at all. We also present examples of microfluidic functional elements—including mixers, separators, and detectors—as well as complete microfluidic devices that function entirely without any moving parts and external power sources.

Graphical abstract: Towards non- and minimally instrumented, microfluidics-based diagnostic devices

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
03 Jul 2008
Accepted
11 Sep 2008
First published
29 Oct 2008

Lab Chip, 2008,8, 1999-2014

Towards non- and minimally instrumented, microfluidics-based diagnostic devices

B. Weigl, G. Domingo, P. LaBarre and J. Gerlach, Lab Chip, 2008, 8, 1999 DOI: 10.1039/B811314A

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