Portable Iron Screening System for Point-of-Care Iron Status Determination

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the United States. Left untreated, iron stores continue to deplete, resulting in iron deficiency anemia. Women undergoing basic military training are particularly susceptible to reduced iron stores. To date, there are no comprehensive point-of-care instruments for accurate determination of iron status. We propose to develop a novel point-of-care iron screening system, which utilizes affinity-based sensors to rapidly and selectively measure serum markers and perform blood analysis on a single microfluidic cartridge. The cartridge will be integrated into a complete system, with user-friendly software, and capabilities of accessing Electronic Health Records. In Phase I, we will develop a rapid, sensitive biosensor for ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor. Proof-of-concept impedance detection will be demonstrated with whole blood from donors with low ferritin levels. A complete integrated system will be conceptualized for measuring a pre-defined panel of iron status markers. In Phase II, the sensor platform will be expanded to include a comprehensive set of biomarkers for iron deficiency. The sensor elements will be optimized and integrated into a single multiplex cartridge. At the conclusion of Phase II, a complete, validated, portable iron screening system will be ready for commercialization and transition.