A Combined Fabrication and Instrumentation Platform for Sample Preparation.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Global Health

Background:

• Access to advanced molecular diagnostics is severely limited in developing regions.
• High costs of instrumentation and consumables hinder widespread adoption.
• Existing diagnostic systems often lack flexibility and user customization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reduced-cost molecular diagnostic instrument for resource-limited settings.
• To create a system capable of on-demand fabrication of consumable devices.
• To design an open-architecture platform for adaptable diagnostic assays.

Main Methods:

• Developed a modular system integrating microfluidic fabrication and viral RNA purification.
• Utilized interchangeable trays for a user-friendly, adaptable workflow.
• Fabricated microfluidic devices for isolating viral RNA from serum samples.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated successful fabrication of microfluidic devices for RNA isolation.
• Successfully measured human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load using the developed system.
• Achieved significantly reduced error rates in sample preparation compared to non-automated methods.

Conclusions:

• The low-cost, open-architecture instrument enhances molecular diagnostic accessibility in developing countries.
• On-demand consumable fabrication reduces reliance on external suppliers and lowers costs.
• The system's adaptability supports diverse diagnostic applications, including HIV viral load monitoring.