Portable Genetic Testing Unit

A month has not passed after unveiling of Tata Nano, and we have news about another such product that is bound to improve quality of life for millions of people.

What is it: A Portable Genetic Testing Unit.

So what?: Well, prior to this innovation, genetic testing meant 2 to 3 days for result on very expensive testing equipments that resulted in cost for single test upto 10000 to 100000 Rs. The new device itself costs 50000 Rs with time for test result at 30 minutes at the time of release of the article. Further innovation has brought down the cost to 4000 Rs. It now gives results in few minutes.

Following is the abstract of the paper titled "An inexpensive and portable microchip-based platform for integrated RT–PCR and capillary electrophoresis" [Reference:Govind V. Kaigala, Analyst, 2008, DOI: 10.1039/b714308g ]:

We present an inexpensive, portable and integrated microfluidic instrument that is optimized to perform genetic amplification and analysis on a single sample. Biochemical reactions and analytical separations for genetic analysis are performed within tri-layered glass–PDMS microchips. The microchip itself consists of integrated pneumatically-actuated valves and pumps for fluid handling, a thin-film resistive element that acts simultaneously as a heater and a temperature sensor, and channels for capillary electrophoresis (CE). The platform is comprised of high voltage circuitry, an optical assembly consisting of a laser diode and a charged coupled device (CCD) camera, circuitry for thermal control, and mini-pumps to generate vacuum/pressure to operate the on-chip diaphragm-based pumps and valves. Using this microchip and instrument, we demonstrate an integration of reverse transcription (RT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and capillary electrophoresis (CE). The novelty of this system lies in the cost-effective integration of microfluidics, optics, and electronics to realize a fully portable and inexpensive system (on the order of $1000 in component costs) for performing both genetic amplification and analysis – the basis of many medical diagnostics. We believe that this combination of portability, cost-effectiveness and performance will enable more accessible healthcare.

More to follow on possible applications on this.

G. Kaigala, V. Hoang, A. Stickel, J. Lauzon, D. Manage, L. M. Pilarski, C. J. Backhouse, An inexpensive and portable microchip-based platform for integrated RT-PCR and capillary electrophoresis, Analyst, DOI:10.1039/B714308G (Accepted, December, 2007).
http://www.rsc.org/delivery/_ArticleLinking/DisplayHTMLArticleforfree.cfm?JournalCode=AN&Year=2008&ManuscriptID=b714308g&Iss=Advance_Article

University of Alberta (2008, January 29). Lab On A Chip Developed For Cheap, Portable Medical Tests.ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 30, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­/releases/2008/01/080129125449.htm

Lab on a chip developed at University of Alberta for cheap, portable medical tests. Eureka Alert
Retrieved January 30, 2008 from
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/uoa-loa012808.php

Website of Govind V Kaigala, lead author of the article. http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/~govind/