Department of Chemical Engineering, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK.
Lab Chip. 2016 Aug 7;16(15):2891-9. doi: 10.1039/c6lc00332j. Epub 2016 Jul 4.
A new microfluidic concept for multi-analyte testing in a dipstick format is presented, termed "Lab-on-a-Stick", that combines the simplicity of dipstick tests with the high performance of microfluidic devices. Lab-on-a-stick tests are ideally suited to analysis of particulate samples such as mammalian or bacterial cells, and capable of performing multiple different parallel microfluidic assays when dipped into a single sample with results recorded optically. The utility of this new diagnostics format was demonstrated by performing three types of multiplex cellular assays that are challenging to perform in conventional dipsticks: 1) instantaneous ABO blood typing; 2) microbial identification; and 3) antibiotic minimum inhibitory (MIC) concentration measurement. A pressure balance model closely predicted the superficial flow velocities in individual capillaries, that were overestimated by up to one order of magnitude by the Lucas-Washburn equation conventionally used for wicking in cylindrical pores. Lab-on-a-stick provides a cost-effective, simple, portable and flexible multiplex platform for a range of assays, and will deliver a new generation of advanced yet affordable point-of-care tests for global diagnostics.
提出了一种新的微流控概念，用于在纸条形式中进行多分析物测试，称为“棒上实验室”，它将纸条测试的简单性与微流控设备的高性能相结合。棒上实验室测试非常适合分析颗粒样品，如哺乳动物或细菌细胞，并且能够在单个样品中进行多次不同的平行微流控分析，并且可以通过光学记录结果。通过进行三种类型的传统纸条难以进行的多重细胞分析来证明这种新诊断格式的实用性：1）即时 ABO 血型鉴定；2）微生物鉴定；和 3）抗生素最小抑制浓度（MIC）测量。压力平衡模型可以很好地预测单个毛细管中的表面流速，而传统上用于圆柱形孔芯吸的 Lucas-Washburn 方程则高估了多达一个数量级。棒上实验室为一系列分析提供了一种具有成本效益，简单，便携和灵活的多路复用平台，并将为全球诊断提供新一代先进但价格合理的即时护理测试。
