Maximizing derivable information from cytologic specimens for pathologic and molecular diagnostics.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Cytopathology

Background:

• Precision medicine drives demand for molecular testing of patient tumor specimens.
• Cytology samples are suitable for molecular testing but often paucicellular.
• Paucicellular samples pose challenges for sample management and multiplex testing.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate a microfluidic platform for simultaneous cytologic and molecular analysis.
• Determine if cytologic and molecular data can be obtained from the same cells.
• Obviate sample partitioning by multiplexing on a microfluidic device.

Main Methods:

• Cytology samples were prepared, stained, and enriched with immunomagnetic beads.
• Cells and beads traversed a microfluidic channel for temporary immobilization and cytologic examination.
• Recovered cells underwent DNA extraction and integrity assessment; cytologic features were compared to conventional methods.

Main Results:

• Cytologic features of microfluidic-processed cells were comparable to conventionally prepared cells.
• High molecular weight DNA was successfully recovered from cells processed through the microfluidic channel.

Conclusions:

• Microfluidics enables multiplex testing of cytologic specimens.
• This platform facilitates both cytology-based diagnostics and high-quality DNA recovery.
• The approach is particularly beneficial for paucicellular specimens needing molecular testing.