A paper microfluidic cartridge for automated staining of malaria parasites with an optically transparent microscopy window.
A paper microfluidic cartridge for the automated staining of malaria parasites (Plasmodium) with acridine orange prior to microscopy is presented. The cartridge enables simultaneous, sub-minute generation of both thin and thick smears of acridine orange stained parasites. Parasites are stained in a cellulose matrix, after which the parasites are ejected via capillary forces into an optically transparent chamber. The unique slanted design of the chamber ensures that a high percentage of the stained blood will be of the required thickness for a thin smear, without resorting to spacers or other methods that can increase production cost or require tight quality controls. A hydrophobic snorkel facilitates the removal of air bubbles during filling. The cartridge contains both a thin smear region, where a single layer of cells is presented unobstructed, for ease of species identification, and a thick smear region, containing multiple cell layers, for enhanced limit of detection.
Intellectual Ventures Laboratory, 1555 132nd Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98005, USA. knichols@intven.com.
Matthew P
MP
Horning
Charles B
CB
Delahunt
S Ryan
SR
Singh
Spencer H
SH
Garing
Kevin P
KP
Nichols
D000165:Acridine Orange / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood; D010209:Paper; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000166:cytology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
D000165:Acridine Orange