02773nas a2200265   4500008004100000022001400041245009700055210006900152260000900221300001200230490000600242520198800248100002102236700002402257700002102281700002102302700001802323700001602341700001802357700001702375700001702392700002002409700001802429856006002447       2014                        eng d  a1932-620300aElectricity-free amplification and detection for molecular point-of-care diagnosis of HIV-1.0 aElectricityfree amplification and detection for molecular pointo  c2014  ae1136930 v93 a<p>In resource-limited settings, the lack of decentralized molecular diagnostic testing and sparse access to centralized medical facilities can present a critical barrier to timely diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent control and elimination of infectious diseases. Isothermal nucleic acid amplification methods, including reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP), are well-suited for decentralized point-of-care molecular testing in minimal infrastructure laboratories since they significantly reduce the complexity of equipment and power requirements. Despite reduced complexity, however, there is still a need for a constant heat source to enable isothermal nucleic acid amplification. This requirement poses significant challenges for laboratories in developing countries where electricity is often unreliable or unavailable. To address this need, we previously developed a low-cost, electricity-free heater using an exothermic reaction thermally coupled with a phase change material. This heater achieved acceptable performance, but exhibited considerable variability. Furthermore, as an enabling technology, the heater was an incomplete diagnostic solution. Here we describe a more precise, affordable, and robust heater design with thermal standard deviation <0.5°C at operating temperature, a cost of approximately US$.06 per test for heater reaction materials, and an ambient temperature operating range from 16°C to 30°C. We also pair the heater with nucleic acid lateral flow (NALF)-detection for a visual readout. To further illustrate the utility of the electricity-free heater and NALF-detection platform, we demonstrate sensitive and repeatable detection of HIV-1 with a ß-actin positive internal amplification control from processed sample to result in less than 80 minutes. Together, these elements are building blocks for an electricity-free platform capable of isothermal amplification and detection of a variety of pathogens.</p>1 aSingleton, Jered1 aOsborn, Jennifer, L1 aLillis, Lorraine1 aHawkins, Kenneth1 aGuelig, Dylan1 aPrice, Will1 aJohns, Rachel1 aEbels, Kelly1 aBoyle, David1 aWeigl, Bernhard1 aLaBarre, Paul  uhttps://www.microfluidicsciences.com/drupal/?q=node/200