Taken from the preface to Microfluidic Diagnostics: Methods in Molecular Biology.



Microfluidic techniques are becoming widely incorporated into medical diagnostic systems due to the inherent advantages of miniaturization. In particular, the application of microfluidics to point-of-care testing (POCT) devices and high throughput screening is predicted to become increasingly important and consequently, the interest in microfluidic diagnostics is rapidly growing.



This book pulls together a range of methods from leading researchers in the field, covering subjects such as microfluidic device fabrication, on-chip sample preparation, diagnostic applications and detection methodologies. The protocols described range from cutting-edge developments to established techniques and basic demonstrations suitable for education and training; from basic fabrication methods to commercializing research.



The book is organized into three parts:

Microfluidic Diagnostics: From the Classroom to the Boardroom contains a number of protocols suitable for the educational demonstration of microfluidic techniques, as well as chapters relating to commercialization issues, such as the microfluidic device market, patent filing, and regulatory affairs. In addition, the opening chapter provides an overview of present technology and future trends in point of care microfluidic diagnostics.



Fabrication and Manipulation Protocols contains a number of protocol and review chapters detailing various microfluidic fabrication methods for the manipulation of fluidic samples on the microscale.



Application Protocols and Commercialization, contains protocols and reviews for various applications of microfluidic diagnostics and a range of detection methodologies.



What you need to know and how to do it; each protocol offers step-by-step instructions, including an introductory overview of the technique, a list of materials and reagents required, as well as helpful tips and troubleshooting advice. Insightful reviews along with advice on how to successfully develop and commercialize microfluidic diagnostic technologies, makes this volume indispensable reading for scientists entering the field as well as providing a reference text for those already established. Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the field, little background knowledge is assumed, providing an accessible text for scientists from a range of disciplines including biomedical researchers, engineers, biochemists and clinicians.