A portable microfluidic system for rapid measurement of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Author
Isiksacan, Z.
Erel, O.
Elbuken, C.
Date
2016Source Title
Lab on a Chip
Print ISSN
1473-0197
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Volume
16
Issue
24
Pages
4682 - 4690
Language
English
Type
ArticleItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a frequently used 30 min or 60 min clinical test for screening of several inflammatory conditions, infections, trauma, and malignant diseases, as well as non-inflammatory conditions including prostate cancer and stroke. Erythrocyte aggregation (EA) is a physiological process where erythrocytes form face-to-face linear structures, called rouleaux, at stasis or low shear rates. In this work, we proposed a method for ESR measurement from EA. We developed a microfluidic opto-electro-mechanical system, using which we experimentally showed a significant correlation (R2 = 0.86) between ESR and EA. The microfluidic system was shown to measure ESR from EA using fingerprick blood in 2 min. 40 μl of whole blood is filled in a disposable polycarbonate cartridge which is illuminated with a near infrared emitting diode. Erythrocytes were disaggregated under the effect of a mechanical shear force using a solenoid pinch valve. Following complete disaggregation, transmitted light through the cartridge was measured using a photodetector for 1.5 min. The intensity level is at its lowest at complete disaggregation and highest at complete aggregation. We calculated ESR from the transmitted signal profile. We also developed another microfluidic cartridge specifically for monitoring the EA process in real-time during ESR measurement. The presented system is suitable for ultrafast, low-cost, and low-sample volume measurement of ESR at the point-of-care.
Keywords
PolycarbonateBlood sampling
Calculation
Erythrocyte aggregation
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Force
Human
Light emitting diode
Measurement accuracy
Measurement repeatability
Microfluidics
Point of care system
Portable equipment
Priority journal
Shear rate