Micro-TAS '98 is the third of a series of symposia initiated by MBSA (University of Twente) in 1994, on the subject of miniaturizing, and integrating within a monolithic structure, the chemical, biochemical and biological procedures commonly used for analysis and synthesis. The primary tool used to develop micro-total analysis systems (m-TAS) has been micro-photolithographic patterning and micromachining. These powerful tools of Micro System Technology (MST or MEMS) have been applied in highly imaginative ways to develop microchip chemical arrays, fully integrated pump and fluid manifolds, and electrokinetically driven micro-channel systems to be used for genetic analysis, clinical diagnostics and environmental monitoring, and to integrate reactions as diverse as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the large volume, partial oxidation of ammonia. This volume contains the proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Micro-Total Analysis Systems, m-TAS '98, held on October 13-16 in Banff, Alberta, Canada.
State-of-the-art invited and contributed papers presented by the world's leading m-TAS research groups provide a picture of the growth since 1994 and of the promising future of this rapidly growing field.