Elsevier

SLAS Technology

Volume 22, Issue 5, October 2017, Pages 518-528
SLAS Technology

Original Reports
Development of Fully Automated Low-Cost Immunoassay System for Research Applications

https://doi.org/10.1177/2472630316684795Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Abstract

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) automation for routine operation in a small research environment would be very attractive. A portable fully automated low-cost immunoassay system was designed, developed, and evaluated with several protein analytes. It features disposable capillary columns as the reaction sites and uses real-time calibration for improved accuracy. It reduces the overall assay time to less than 75 min with the ability of easy adaptation of new testing targets. The running cost is extremely low due to the nature of automation, as well as reduced material requirements. Details about system configuration, components selection, disposable fabrication, system assembly, and operation are reported. The performance of the system was initially established with a rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) assay, and an example of assay adaptation with an interleukin 6 (IL6) assay is shown. This system is ideal for research use, but could work for broader testing applications with further optimization.

Keywords

microfluidics
microtechnology
lab automation
ELISA
diagnostic tools
immunoassay system

Cited by (0)