Principal Investigator Joel Voldman
Traditional blood tests are performed in centralized laboratories by trained technicians and need days to deliver results. The need of ~mL blood sample also makes it challenging to apply the traditional tests to premies or even newborns. We are developing a miniaturized microfluidic electronic biosensor, which gives immediate results (within 30 minutes) and needs ~μL blood, for diagnosis of neonate sepsis. To achieve this goal, we developed portable PCB-based multiplexed amperometry circuitry and a bead-based electronic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Combining the circuitry and bead-based assay, we have demonstrated measurement of human interleukin-6, a potential neo-natal sepsis biomarkers, in serum with clinically relevant limit of detection (e.g., < 40pg/ml).