Improving malaria diagnosis via latex immunoagglutination assay in microfluidic device

Abstract

Attempt to improve latex immunoagglutination assay, a rapid method in medical diagnostics, reporting as quantitative results was interested in this study by using microfluidic device. Sensitized latex was produced by physical adsorption of human polyclonal IgG antibody to Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite onto carboxylated polystyrene particle. Conventional latex agglutination assay was firstly performed to verify specific interaction of antibody on the bead surface versus antigen in malaria plasma. The agglutinate size around 30 μm was observed under optical microscope. The proportion of the plasma and the particle was optimized, and an appropriate ratio was applied in microfluidic device. Three patterns of the device were used with the agglutinate size comparison after 10 min as followed: rapid mixing > U-shaped loop > straight capillary Yjunction patterns. However, compared with patient plasma, small agglutinates were also observed when using normal serum. © (2010) Trans Tech Publications.