Genetic analysis can be used for disease diagnosis and identification of chemical and biological weapons as well as for forensic identification. However, devices which can be used to perform these analyses are not yet widely available. 

Mark Burns and colleagues at the University of Michigan, US, have designed a lab on a chip which could make such testing cheap, easy and fast enough for anyone to use.

The apparatus comprises two nanolitre reactors in series together with a microgel electrophoresis channel. Burns and his team have used the device to determine the subtype of a strain of influenza virus.  Identification of subtypes of this virus is a priority due to the potential health threat posed by its rapidly changing genome.

The cost per device - currently ~US$7 - will be reduced to much less than $1 with further miniaturisation.

"This area of research has tremendous potential. In a way parallel to the computer industry, microfluidic devices for chemical analysis will continue to improve. The biggest challenges include producing devices cheaply enough for wide-spread dissemination, developing robust packaging strategies, and providing sufficient control for accurate testing," said Burns.

Adrian P Kybett