Role of Nano- and Microtechnologies in Clinical Point-of-Care Testing

Abstract

There is increasing interest in point-of-care diagnostic testing in hospitals and within homes. Advances in engineering and innovation in diagnostic technologies are enabling miniaturized devices (e.g., lab-on-a-chip) at the micro or nanoscale and these devices may eventually provide most if not all of the current range of central laboratory clinical tests at the point-of-care. Specific benefits for miniaturized devices include integration of all steps in a clinical test in single device), replicate analysis for enhanced reliability, portability, low cost, implantability (e.g., in vivo devices), and simplified operation. However, often the true potential of these new technologies cannot be readily assessed because there is inadequate validation with real samples in a clinically relevant environment. It is important to know how common interfering substances (e.g., bilirubin, lipids, hemoglobin, drugs) present in some biological samples may affect a detection technology. Even if a technology can successfully negotiate these hurdles, it must be formatted or packaged to meet the essential requirements of point-of-care testing. This chapter explores the scope of micro and nanotechnologies in the context of point-of-care testing and discusses issues relevant to their implementation.