title: A Combined Fabrication and Instrumentation Platform for Sample Preparation.
abstract: While potentially powerful, access to molecular diagnostics is substantially limited in the developing world. Here we present an approach to reduced cost molecular diagnostic instrumentation that has the potential to empower developing world communities by reducing costs through streamlining the sample preparation process. In addition, this instrument is capable of producing its own consumable devices on demand, reducing reliance on assay suppliers. Furthermore, this instrument is designed with an "open" architecture, allowing users to visually observe the assay process and make modifications as necessary (as opposed to traditional "black box" systems). This open environment enables integration of microfluidic fabrication and viral RNA purification onto an easy-to-use modular system via the use of interchangeable trays. Here we employ this system to develop a protocol to fabricate microfluidic devices and then use these devices to isolate viral RNA from serum for the measurement of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load. Results obtained from this method show significantly reduced error compared with similar nonautomated sample preparation processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA guckenberger@wisc.edu.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Guckenberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rothbauer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Alex J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: LaVanway
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Gilson, Inc., Middleton, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gilson
authors.affiliation: Gilson, Inc., Middleton, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fawcett
authors.affiliation: Gilson, Inc., Middleton, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Tristan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berto
authors.affiliation: Gilson, Inc., Middleton, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D053000:Analytic Sample Preparation Methods / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019985:Benchmarking; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000821:virology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices / Q000191:economics; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000075082:Proof of Concept Study; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D012371:Robotics / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019562:Viral Load; D014885:Waxes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D014885:Waxes
keywords: automated biology; engineering; fabrication; lab-on-a-chip; microfluidics; microtechnology; molecular biology; robotics and instrumentation