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

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-9-2023

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.

Identifier

85176730040 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Lab on A Chip

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1039/d3lc00728f

e-ISSN

14730189

ISSN

14730197

PubMed ID

37961846

First Page

3850

Last Page

3862

Issue

16

Volume

24

Grant

ZH22017002200012PWC

Fund Ref

Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS