title: Microchip capillary electrophoresis for point-of-care analysis of lithium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a promising method for chemical analysis of complex samples such as whole blood. We evaluated the method for point-of-care testing of lithium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chemical separation was performed on standard glass microchip CE devices with a conductivity detector as described in previous work. Here we demonstrate a new sample-to-chip interface. Initially, we took a glass capillary as a sample collector for whole blood from a finger stick. In addition, we designed a novel disposable sample collector and tested it against the clinical standard at the hospital (Medisch Spectrum Twente). Both types of collectors require < 10 microL of test fluid. The collectors contain an integrated filter membrane, which prevents the transfer of blood cells into the microchip. The combination of such a sample collector with microchip CE allows point-of-care measurements without the need for off-chip sample treatment. This new on-chip protocol was verified against routine lithium testing of 5 patients in the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sodium, lithium, magnesium, and calcium were separated in < 20 s. The detection limit for lithium was 0.15 mmol/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new microchip CE system provides a convenient and rapid method for point-of-care testing of electrolytes in serum and whole blood.
authors.affiliation: MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elwin X
authors.initials: EX
authors.lastname: Vrouwe
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luttge
authors.forename: Istvan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vermes
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van den Berg
mesh_terms: D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000097:blood*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D046209:Electrophoresis, Microchip; D006801:Humans; D018020:Lithium Compounds / Q000097:blood*; D009339:Needles; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems
chemical_list: D018692:Antimanic Agents; D018020:Lithium Compounds