Smartphone-Based lab-on-a-chip sensor for flu detection

It is desirable to conduct reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or an immunoassay at the point-of-care level or in the field for early diagnosis of influenza. The lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is the perfect instrument to perform such a task. An LOC is a network of channels and wells that is etched onto a silicon or polymer substrate to build a miniature laboratory. The LOC enables sample handing, mixing, dilution, separation, staining, and detection within a single, integrated system and is perfectly suitable for chemical or biological assays. Final detections in an LOC can be made electrochemically or optically, but optical detection is gaining popularity due to its high sensitivity and better specificity. Optical detection in an LOC can be implemented through the use of an LED light source, a pair of optical fibers, and a miniature spectrometer.