The take-up of near-patient testing (lab-on-a-chip)

Abstract

In medicine, the confluence of nanotechnology and microfluidics has resulted in the “labon-a-chip” concept, whereby blood and other body fluid analysis to detect diseases may be conducted at home or at the point of care without the need for specialized laboratory equipment. Although the literature is full of research papers in this area, very few devices have successfully reached market. Some are available to specialists in the health services but even fewer available to the general public. Why is this and what is the future? The following is a review of where we are and the problems involved in realizing the dream of near-patient testing.