Finger-actuated microfluidic device for the blood cross-matching test

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Microfluidics
• Transfusion Medicine

Background:

• Conventional blood cross-matching tests are complex, requiring specialized equipment and personnel.
• Hemolytic transfusion reactions are a risk if cross-matching is not performed accurately.
• There is a need for simplified, user-friendly methods for blood compatibility testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simplified, finger-actuated microfluidic device for blood cross-matching.
• To minimize user-dependent errors in microfluidic device operation.
• To enable rapid and accurate blood compatibility testing outside of traditional laboratory settings.

Main Methods:

• Design of a finger-actuated microfluidic device with indirect pressure control of fluidic channels.
• Development of a pressure chamber mechanism for consistent fluid dispensing.
• Integration of plasma separation membranes and simultaneous actuation of four fluidic channels.
• Procedure involving loading donor and recipient blood samples and cross-reacting plasma and whole blood components.

Main Results:

• The device ensures constant volume dispensing irrespective of user actuation variations.
• Dispensed volume is controllable by adjusting the number of actuations and chamber diameter.
• Multiple fluids can be dispensed at desired ratios.
• Successful blood cross-matching test performed within 10 minutes using 50 μL of whole blood.

Conclusions:

• The finger-actuated microfluidic device offers a simplified and reliable method for blood cross-matching.
• The innovative design reduces user-dependent errors, making the test accessible to a wider range of users.
• This technology has the potential to improve transfusion safety and accessibility, particularly in resource-limited settings.