Microfluidic point-of-care testing device for multiplexed detection of liver function blood markers

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Background:

• Liver function tests are crucial for diagnosing liver injury.
• Current methods can be complex and require specialized equipment.
• There is a need for accessible and rapid liver function assessment tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) for quantifying key liver function markers.
• To enable rapid screening of liver injury using fingertip blood samples.
• To support clinical decision-making in resource-limited areas.

Main Methods:

• Development of a microfluidic paper-based analytical device.
• Quantification of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin in human blood samples.
• Evaluation of detection accuracy and storage stability using fingertip samples.
• Comparison of results with a standard clinical analyzer (Mindray BS350).

Main Results:

• The µPAD successfully quantified liver function markers from fingertip and whole blood.
• High correlation was observed between the µPAD results and the Mindray BS350.
• The device demonstrated good storage stability, even under challenging environmental conditions (35 °C and 90% RH).

Conclusions:

• The developed µPAD is an effective platform for the clinical assessment of liver injury.
• This technology offers a rapid, accurate, and accessible method for liver function testing.
• The device holds significant potential for improving liver injury screening in resource-limited settings.