Rapid On-Site Evaluation (ROSE): A Microfluidic Approach

Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) increases the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples from cysts, a sack-like fluid-containing tissue that sometimes can be precancerous, but is highly dependent on the skills and availability of cytopathologists. We present a semiautomated sample preparation device for ROSE. The device consists of a smearing tool and a capillary-driven chamber that allow smearing and staining of an FNA sample in a single platform. Here, we show the capability of the device to prepare samples for ROSE, using a human pancreatic cancer cell line (PANC-1) and liver, lymph node, and thyroid FNA model samples. Using microfluidics, the device reduces the equipment needed in an operating room for FNA sample preparation, which may lead to a wider implementation of ROSE in healthcare centers.