Proceedings of the First Workshop on Standards for Microfluidics

Area of Science:

• Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Technology
• Biotechnology and Medical Devices
• Standards Development

Background:

• The microfluidics/lab-on-a-chip field has evolved significantly over two decades.
• This technology holds immense potential for in vitro diagnostics, point-of-care testing, and organ-on-a-chip applications.
• Standardization is critical for market enablement and advancing research and development in microfluidics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To convene stakeholders from industry, academia, and government.
• To discuss and define the standardization needs within the microfluidics field.
• To foster collaboration for future developments in microfluidics standardization.

Main Methods:

• A workshop was organized by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on June 1-2, 2017.
• The workshop included presentations and breakout sessions focused on microfluidics standardization.
• Attendance comprised 46 individuals from 26 organizations across 11 countries.

Main Results:

• The workshop successfully brought together diverse global stakeholders.
• Discussions focused on identifying and defining critical standardization needs for microfluidics.
• Key outcomes included summaries of presentations and breakout session findings.

Conclusions:

• The workshop highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in establishing microfluidics standards.
• Defining standards is essential for unlocking the full potential of lab-on-a-chip technologies.
• Continued dialogue and participation are vital for the future of microfluidics standardization.