Lab-on-a-Chip Point-of-Care

Mapping and prioritizing LoC technologies to deliver lab-grade diagnostic tests for a global NGO–industry consortium at ultra-low costs suitable for resource-limited settings.

Client

Global NGO–Industry Consortium

Objective

Rank LoC Systems for Cost & Accuracy

Timeline

10-Week Program

Key Focus

Sub-$0.50 Disposable Cost

The Challenge: Central-Lab Accuracy at Flea-Market Prices

Microfluidic "lab-on-a-chip" (LoC) devices promise to democratize diagnostics, but scaling them up for global health initiatives is slowed by four interlocking hurdles related to cost, performance, and regulation.

Penny-Level Disposables: Injection-molded plastic chips must cost ≤$0.50 each to be viable in low-resource settings.

Zero Cross-Contamination: On-chip valves and channels must perfectly isolate samples to prevent false results and ensure regulatory approval.

Regulatory Equivalence: Assays need to prove parity with central-lab gold standards like ELISA or PCR to gain CLIA-waiver or WHO pre-qualification.

Robust Field Use: Chips must store dry reagents for over a year at 35°C and survive rough handling without a cold chain.

Key Outcomes: Top-Five LoC Solutions

Our 5-phase program delivered a ranked shortlist of five complete LoC systems, including chip fabrication methods, reagent stabilization techniques, and low-cost reader designs.

COC capillary-valve chip + sugar-glass dried reagents: Achieved 95% sensitivity and 97% specificity for an HIV assay at a chip cost of ~$0.28.
Paper–polymer hybrid CRP strip: A pump-free design with a 12-month stability at 37°C, costing just $0.19 per test.
Dissolvable PVOH film micro-valves: A novel fluid control method that guarantees zero sample carry-over.
CMOS + dual-LED reader: A low-power reader with a BOM cost of only $135 and an 18-hour battery life.
ISO 13485-ready manufacturing line: A scalable roll-to-roll molding process with 93% yield.

Strategic Impact

The consortium approved a 5-clinic pilot using the COC HIV chip and paper-CRP strip. Success will cut diagnosis-to-treatment lag by 40% and slash consumable costs—moving the needle toward equitable, lab-quality point-of-care diagnostics at a global scale.

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