title: Lab-in-a-pen: a diagnostics format familiar to patients for low-resource settings.
abstract: We present a low cost, simple and integrated device for medical diagnostics in low-resource settings called the lab-in-a-pen. Finger pricking, and sample collection and processing, are integrated with commercially available paper-based assays in a pen format. This approach ensures safety (i.e. biological sample and sharps containment) and can be used by untrained end users across multiple settings. The pen format also leverages existing low cost, high volume manufacturing and assembly methods. We characterize sample wicking in the lab-in-a-pen using porcine whole blood. The clinical diagnostic utility and usability of the lab-in-a-pen is established by testing of patients for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B 'e' antigen (HBeAg) by medical staff at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G8. sinton@mie.utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Max M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Brendan D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Trung Vu
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Kinh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Nguyen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sinton
mesh_terms: D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices / Q000191:economics; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010209:Paper
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens