Sample Preparation Using Microfluidic Technologies for Non-Invasive Tests

Abstract

The collection of a biological sample and the steps carried out to obtain the target in a sample covers the sample preparation procedures which are one of the important steps for diagnostic tests. Removing interferences in a complex sample, preventing undesirable reactions, separating, purifying, and enriching the sample are among the steps that can be applied to samples for analysis. Non-invasive tests include samples such as urine, saliva, sweat, tear, breath and are preferred because they are simple, painless, cost-effective and cause fewer complications. In traditional methods applied in clinics, most of the steps such as centrifugation, pipetting, staining, and washing are performed manually by a technician. For this reason, tests are costly, require long analysis time, and have a significant risk of contamination and manual errors. Microfluidic technologies allow automating sample collection and preparation steps by integrating many components on a single chip. Thereby, low-volume samples can be processed automatically with high efficiency and purity. In this chapter, the sample preparation methods used in microfluidic devices for non-invasive tests analyzing human samples including sweat, urine, saliva, tears, sexual samples, and other body fluids are reviewed. This information aims to facilitate the development of potential sample preparation methods and applications for non-invasive diagnostic tests. © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.