Issue 16, 2024

A syndromic diagnostic assay on a macrochannel-to-digital microfluidic platform for automatic identification of multiple respiratory pathogens

Abstract

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has changed people's lives and the diagnostic landscape. The nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) as the gold standard for SARS-CoV-2 detection has been applied in containing its transmission. However, there remains a lack of an affordable on-site detection system at resource-limited areas. In this study, a low cost “sample-in-answer-out” system incorporating nucleic acid extraction, purification, and amplification was developed on a single macrochannel-to-digital microfluidic chip. The macrochannel fluidic subsystem worked as a world-to-chip interface receiving 500–1000 μL raw samples, which then underwent bead-based extraction and purification processes before being delivered to DMF. Electrodes actuate an eluent dispensed to eight independent droplets for reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). By reading with 4 florescence channels, the system can accommodate a maximum of 32 detection targets. To evaluate the proposed platform, a comprehensive assessment was conducted on the microfluidic chip as well as its functional components (i.e., extraction and amplification). The platform demonstrated a superior performance. In particular, using clinical specimens, the chip targeting SARS-CoV-2 and Flu A/B exhibited 100% agreement with off-chip diagnoses. Furthermore, the fabrication of chips is ready for scaled-up manufacturing and they are cost-effective for disposable use since they are assembled using a printed circuit board (PCB) and prefabricated blocks. Overall, the macrochannel-to-digital microfluidic platform coincides with the requirements of point-of-care testing (POCT) because of its advantages: low-cost, ease of use, comparable sensitivity and specificity, and availability for mass production.

Graphical abstract: A syndromic diagnostic assay on a macrochannel-to-digital microfluidic platform for automatic identification of multiple respiratory pathogens

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
25 Aug 2023
Accepted
04 Nov 2023
First published
09 Nov 2023

Lab Chip, 2024,24, 3850-3862

A syndromic diagnostic assay on a macrochannel-to-digital microfluidic platform for automatic identification of multiple respiratory pathogens

C. Dong, F. Li, Y. Sun, D. Long, C. Chen, M. Li, T. Wei, R. P. Martins, T. Chen and P. Mak, Lab Chip, 2024, 24, 3850 DOI: 10.1039/D3LC00728F

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