The LabDisk – A Fully Automated Centrifugal Lab-on-a-Chip System for the Detection of Biological Threats

Abstract

The world’s growing mobility, mass tourism and the threat of terrorism increase the risk of a fast spread of infectious microorganisms and toxins. Therefore, there is a growing demand for small, mobile, easy to use diagnostic systems for automated detection of those agents directly at the point of need. However, the state of the art for pathogen detection requires complex stationary devices and trained personal limiting the capability for a rapid and effective response. We present an alternative solution to this demand: the LabDisk platform, a portable fully automated Lab-on-a-Chip system which performs complex biochemical analyses at the point of need. We applied the LabDisk platform to an automated nucleic acid analysis for the detection of Bacillus anthracis and Francisella tularensis and to an immunoassay for the detection of ricin.