Abstract |
A paper microfluidic cartridge for the automated staining of malaria parasites (Plasmodium) with acridine orange prior to microscopy is presented. The cartridge enables simultaneous, sub-minute generation of both thin and thick smears of acridine orange stained parasites. Parasites are stained in a cellulose matrix, after which the parasites are ejected via capillary forces into an optically transparent chamber. The unique slanted design of the chamber ensures that a high percentage of the stained blood will be of the required thickness for a thin smear, without resorting to spacers or other methods that can increase production cost or require tight quality controls. A hydrophobic snorkel facilitates the removal of air bubbles during filling. The cartridge contains both a thin smear region, where a single layer of cells is presented unobstructed, for ease of species identification, and a thick smear region, containing multiple cell layers, for enhanced limit of detection.
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Authors | Matthew P Horning, Charles B Delahunt, S Ryan Singh, Spencer H Garing, Kevin P Nichols |
Journal | Lab on a chip
(Lab Chip)
Vol. 14
Issue 12
Pg. 2040-6
(Jun 21 2014)
ISSN: 1473-0189 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 24781199
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Acridine Orange
(chemistry)
- Humans
- Malaria, Falciparum
(blood)
- Paper
- Plasmodium falciparum
(cytology)
- Staining and Labeling
(instrumentation, methods)
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