title: Fluid elements--a concept for automation of diagnostic tests.
abstract: Constructs consisting of a channel, a membrane, and an absorber are designed for autonomously carrying out various liquid-handling functions of analytical tests. These so-called fluid elements can be used to set up various circuits for conducting several kinds of analytical tests. To demonstrate the feasibility of this concept, we constructed such a circuit and used it to perform, with two handling steps, an ELISA of hepatitis B surface antigen. The detection limit of the assay was comparable with those of state-of-the-art ELISAs for screening blood, and results could be obtained within a total test time of 20 min. We anticipate that this concept of automation may also serve as a basis for new, highly simplified immunoanalyzers.
authors.affiliation: Organon Teknika, Boxtel, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Damme
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Velthoven
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaelen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelssers
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis / Q000379:methods*; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011312:Pressure; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D012996:Solutions