Integrated point of care testing system based on low cost polymer biochips

A new diagnostic testing device is proposed for point of care (POC) applications. It consists of a microfluidic cartridge with a polymer biochip and an instrument for reading the biochip and controlling the microfluidics. This system allows a very easy determination of several parameters e.g. in patients blood automatically. The biochip is made of a thin polymer foil serving as waveguiding element and as carrier for the receptors on the biochip surface. A sensitive TIRF (total internal reflection fluorescence) readout is realised. Optical elements for incoupling and outcoupling of light are integrated into the foil. Beside the TIRF element, the disposable microfluidic cartridge integrates a sample inlet, several reservoirs for reagents, fluidic microchannels and electrochemical micropumps. Sandwich assays for the detection of clinically relevant parameters have been investigated. This hardware configuration forms the basis for a fully automated compact low cost device using cost efficient disposables.