We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Breakthrough in Diagnostic Technology Could Make On-The-Spot Testing Widely Accessible

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 01 Dec 2023
Print article
Image: Made-to-order diagnostic tests may soon be on the horizon (Photo courtesy of McGill University)
Image: Made-to-order diagnostic tests may soon be on the horizon (Photo courtesy of McGill University)

Home testing gained significant importance during the COVID-19 pandemic, yet the availability of rapid tests is limited, and most of them can only drive one liquid across the strip, leading to continued reliance on centralized laboratory diagnostics. Now, a significant advancement has been achieved in diagnostic technology with the development of a 'lab on a chip' that can be created through 3D printing in just half an hour. This innovation holds the potential to make rapid, on-site testing widely accessible.

As part of a recent study, researchers at McGill University (Montreal, QC, Canada) have pioneered the development of capillaric chips, which essentially serve as miniaturized laboratories. In contrast to other computer microprocessors, these chips are designed for single use and do not need an external power source; they operate efficiently using just a paper strip. Their functionality is based on capillary action, the natural process that enables liquid to spontaneously move into an absorbent material, like a paper towel absorbing a spill on a table. Remarkably, these chips can be tailored through 3D printing for a variety of tests, including the quantification of COVID-19 antibodies.

This advancement brings the concept of 3D-printed home diagnostics closer to practical application, though challenges like obtaining regulatory approvals and securing the necessary testing materials still exist. The research team is committed to enhancing the accessibility of this technology, focusing on adapting it for use with more affordable 3D printers. innovation aims to accelerate diagnostic processes, improve patient care, and usher in a new era of convenient and accessible testing options.

“Traditional diagnostics require peripherals, while ours can circumvent them. Our diagnostics are a bit what the cell phone was to traditional desktop computers that required a separate monitor, keyboard and power supply to operate,” explained Prof. David Juncker, Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at McGill and senior author on the study. “This advancement has the capacity to empower individuals, researchers, and industries to explore new possibilities and applications in a more cost-effective and user-friendly manner. This innovation also holds the potential to eventually empower health professionals with the ability to rapidly create tailored solutions for specific needs right at the point-of-care.”

Related Links:
McGill University

Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV
Gold Member
Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Lumi
New
Vaginal pH Screening Kit
Vaginal pH Screening Kit
New
Moxifloxacin Resistance Assay
Allplex MG & MoxiR Assay

Print article

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: This joint effort will use samples from KU ADRC research to validate a blood test developed by BYU (Photo courtesy of KU ADRC)

Blood Test for Early Alzheimer’s Detection Could Help Slow Disease Progression

When brain cells, such as those affected by Alzheimer’s disease, die, small fragments of DNA are released into the bloodstream. These fragments, known as cell-free DNA, carry valuable information, including... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: Personalized blood count could lead to early intervention for common diseases (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Personalized CBC Testing Could Help Diagnose Early-Stage Diseases in Healthy Individuals

A complete blood count (CBC) screening is a standard examination most physicians request for healthy adults. This test is essential for evaluating a patient’s overall health with a single blood sample.... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Concept for the device. Memory B cells able to bind influenza virus remain stuck to channels despite shear forces (Photo courtesy of Steven George/UC Davis)

Microfluidic Chip-Based Device to Measure Viral Immunity

Each winter, a new variant of influenza emerges, posing a challenge for immunity. People who have previously been infected or vaccinated against the flu may have some level of protection, but how well... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The BIOFIRE® FILMARRAY® Tropical Fever Panel has received U.S. FDA Special 510(k) clearance (Photo courtesy of bioMérieux)

Syndromic PCR Test Rapidly and Accurately Identifies Pathogens in Patients with Tropical Fever Infections

Tropical fevers refer to infections that are common in, or unique to, tropical and subtropical regions. As these diseases spread to previously unaffected areas and can be brought in by travelers, infections... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: These images show the high resolution achieved with the new microscopy technique (Photo courtesy of Cao, R. et al. Science Advance, 2024. Caltech)

New Microscopy Technique Enables Rapid Tumor Analysis by Surgeons in OR

The current standard method for quickly sampling and imaging tissue during surgery involves taking a biopsy, freezing the sample, staining it to enhance visibility, and slicing it into thin sections that... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.