SOF Micro Lab

The overall goal of this program is to build a compact, lightweight, portable laboratory kit that can be used to analyze chemistries, cell counts, parasites, bacteria, and other pathogens in blood, urine, and body fluids. Our proposed Portable Micro-Lab(PML) kit will be composed of two sub-systems:1) Environmentally stable microdot test strips smaller than a stick of chewing gum and containing the individual solid phase assay chemistries2) Hand-held electro-optic reader/processorThe PML kit will be small, rugged, and easy-to-use. Within minutes and without bulky instrumentation or sample preparation, it will provide SOCOM field personnel test results. Additionally, these results can be stored electronically, analyzed, andtransmitted wirelessly. The expected performance and features of the PML will far exceed that of anything currently available.In Phase I, we will show the feasibility of performing multiple blood tests, at the same time, from only one drop of untreated whole blood (no pre-treatment required) using microdot test strips and the hand-held electro-optic reader/processor. We will thatthe PML kit can be extended to other blood assays and additional body fluids. An overall system design approach will also be developed. The proposed Portable Micro-Lab (PML) kit will enable SOCOM field personnel to perform multiple chemical and biological assays in remote locations. The expected performance and features of the PML kit will far exceed that of anything currently available.It will be rugged, self-calibrating, and as easy-to-use as a home glucose meter. Additionally, no sample preparation will be required in the field. The small package, lightweight, and battery operation will allow it to be very portable. The system willrequire very small quantities of body fluid (i.e. one drop of blood) and the medical test results can be stored, compared to prior tests, analyzed, and transmitted wirelessly.In addition to SOCOM and other military applications, the Portable Micro-Lab can be customized for first responder (EMT, etc.), homeland security, emergency contingency, rural medicine, physician office lab (POL), and humanitarian aid organizationapplications. Additional spin-off technologies, devices, and applications are anticipated.