Microchip-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (microELISA) system with thermal lens detection.

A microchip-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (microELISA) system was developed and interferon-gamma was successfully determined. The system was composed of a microchip with a Y-shaped microchannel and a dam structure, polystyrene microbeads, and a thermal lens microscope (TLM). All reactions required for the immunoassay were done in the microchannel by successive introduction of a sample and regents. The enzyme reaction product, in a liquid phase, was detected downstream in the channel using the TLM as substrate solution was injected. The antigen-antibody reaction time was shortened by the microchip integration. The limit of the determination was improved by adopting the enzyme label. Moreover, detection procedures were greatly simplified and required time for the detection was significantly cut. The system has good potential to be developed as a small and automated high throughput analyzer.