Since the 1990s, centrifugal microfluidic platforms have evolved into a mature technology for the automation of bioanalytical assays in decentralized settings. These “Lab-on-a-Disc” (LoaD) systems have already implemented a range of laboratory unit operations (LUOs) such as sample loading, liquid transport, metering, aliquoting, routing, mixing, and washing. By assembling these LUOs in highly functional microfluidic networks, including sample preparation and detection, a sizable portfolio of common test formats such as general chemistry, immunoassays/ protein analysis, nucleic acid testing, and cell counting has been established. The availability of these bioanalytical assay types enables a broad range of applications in fields such as life-science research, biomedical point-of-care testing and veterinary diagnostics, as well as agrifood, environmental, infrastructural, and industrial monitoring.
Part of the book: Lab-on-a-Chip Fabrication and Application