title: Development of Fully Automated Low-Cost Immunoassay System for Research Applications.
abstract: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) automation for routine operation in a small research environment would be very attractive. A portable fully automated low-cost immunoassay system was designed, developed, and evaluated with several protein analytes. It features disposable capillary columns as the reaction sites and uses real-time calibration for improved accuracy. It reduces the overall assay time to less than 75 min with the ability of easy adaptation of new testing targets. The running cost is extremely low due to the nature of automation, as well as reduced material requirements. Details about system configuration, components selection, disposable fabrication, system assembly, and operation are reported. The performance of the system was initially established with a rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) assay, and an example of assay adaptation with an interleukin 6 (IL6) assay is shown. This system is ideal for research use, but could work for broader testing applications with further optimization.
authors.affiliation: 1 SFC Fluidics, Inc., Fayetteville, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Guochun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 SFC Fluidics, Inc., Fayetteville, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Champak
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: 1 SFC Fluidics, Inc., Fayetteville, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ledden
authors.affiliation: 1 SFC Fluidics, Inc., Fayetteville, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 1 SFC Fluidics, Inc., Fayetteville, AR, USA.
authors.forename: Chien
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057205:Automation, Laboratory / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011506:Proteins
keywords: ELISA; diagnostic tools; immunoassay system; lab automation; microfluidics; microtechnology