A Microfluidic-Based DNA Analysis Test For Pathogen Identification

Student: Nora Markia, 2014-2015

In the field of food safety and medicine, sample analysis and bacteria detection are time-consuming and costly methods. These characteristics hinder the rapid availability of the results. Processing time and sample volume are determinative parameters in sample analysis methods, minimizing them is important in every scientific field for saving time and cost. By implementing an on-chip, degas-driven, isothermal PCR and detection, as part of a device that can do the whole sample process from bacteria separation to result evaluation, we can provide a solution.

Nucleic acid amplification is a useful tool in sample analysis devices: for detecting bacteria from solutions we should multiply their DNA-s for better detection and more reliable result. There are 3 well-known nucleic acid amplification methods: regular PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), RPA (Recombinase Polymerase Amplification) and LAMP (Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification). Every method has its own advantages and disadvantages; the applied technique depends on the purpose of the given device.

In our device, we apply LAMP, an automatic method that needs an isothermal setup for amplification and a single solution is containing sample and primers, thereby we can reduce complexity, thus cost and process time. After amplification we can detect the results by several methods, for example measuring light scattering with photodiode sensors or with a forward scatter light detection setup using optical cables.

This promising implemented device can solve problems mentioned above and can be useful in other research fields, for example water quality measurement or other environmental testing areas.