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On-chip sample preparation for complete blood count from raw blood
John Nguyen1, Yuan Wei, Yi Zheng
1Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. sun@mie.utoronto.ca.
Lab on a Chip
|January 30, 2015
Summary
This study presents a novel microfluidic device for integrated on-chip sample preparation and single-cell analysis of red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) from whole blood. The device enables automated blood processing and electrical impedance measurements for comprehensive cell parameter determination.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Microfluidics
- Cellular Analysis
Background:
- Traditional blood analysis requires complex sample preparation steps.
- Integrating sample preparation and analysis on a single microfluidic platform offers significant advantages in efficiency and automation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a monolithic microfluidic device for fully integrated on-chip sample preparation and single-cell analysis of RBCs and WBCs from whole blood.
- To enable precise measurement of various blood cell parameters using electrical impedance.
Main Methods:
- Design and fabrication of a monolithic microfluidic device with parallel sub-systems for sample processing and electrical measurements.
- Integration of on-chip dilution, lysis, and filtration for whole blood processing.
- Utilizing electrical impedance measurements for quantifying RBC and WBC parameters, including concentration, MCV, and differential counts.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated successful on-chip sample preparation and single-cell analysis from whole blood on a single device.
- Validated the system's capability by analyzing over 100,000 cells from 10 patient blood samples.
- Achieved accurate determination of RBC concentration, MCV, cell distribution width, WBC concentration, and differential counts.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic device offers a fully integrated solution for automated blood sample processing and analysis.
- This technology has the potential to streamline laboratory workflows and improve the efficiency of hematological diagnostics.
