TY - JOUR T1 - Microfluidic diagnostic technologies for global public health. JF - Nature Y1 - 2006 A1 - Yager, Paul A1 - Edwards, Thayne A1 - Fu, Elain A1 - Helton, Kristen A1 - Nelson, Kjell A1 - Tam, Milton R A1 - Weigl, Bernhard H KW - Developing Countries KW - Diagnostic Tests, Routine KW - Humans KW - Internationality KW - Microfluidics KW - Public Health AB -

The developing world does not have access to many of the best medical diagnostic technologies; they were designed for air-conditioned laboratories, refrigerated storage of chemicals, a constant supply of calibrators and reagents, stable electrical power, highly trained personnel and rapid transportation of samples. Microfluidic systems allow miniaturization and integration of complex functions, which could move sophisticated diagnostic tools out of the developed-world laboratory. These systems must be inexpensive, but also accurate, reliable, rugged and well suited to the medical and social contexts of the developing world.

VL - 442 IS - 7101 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16871209?dopt=Abstract ER -