Catching bird flu in a droplet.
It is assumed that a timely mass administration of antiviral drugs, backed by quarantines and social distancing, could contain a nascent influenza epidemic at its source, provided that the first clusters of cases were localized within a short time. However, effective routine surveillance may be impossible in countries lacking basic public health resources. For a global containment strategy to be successful, low-cost, easy-to-use handheld units that permit decentralized testing would be vital. Here we present a microfluidic platform that can detect the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 in a throat swab sample by using magnetic forces to manipulate a free droplet containing superparamagnetic particles. In a sequential process, the viral RNA is isolated, purified, preconcentrated by 50,000% and subjected to ultrafast real-time RT-PCR. Compared to commercially available tests, the bioassay is equally sensitive and is 440% faster and 2,000-5,000% cheaper.
Pipper
Juergen
J
Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, #04-01, Singapore 138669. jpipper@ibn.a.star.edu.sg
Inoue
Masafumi
M
Ng
Lisa F-P
LF
Neuzil
Pavel
P
Zhang
Yi
Y
Novak
Lukas
L
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001717:Birds; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000821:virology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000821:virology*; D044085:Microfluidics / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008904:Miniaturization; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D012367:RNA, Viral