A microfluidic architecture for efficient reagent integration, reagent release, and analyte detection in limited sample volume

Abstract

Biological assays generally employ interactions between analytes and specific reagents for detecting analytes in samples. The miniaturization and the integration of these assays on microfluidic devices enable rapid, multiplexed point-ofcare tests using small amounts of samples and reagents. Here, we introduce a new microfluidic architecture that is only 6 μL in volume with an array of 8 parallel reagent and detection channels. This architecture "protects" the detection area against filling artifacts using valves, flow splitters and junctions, high and low flow resistances, and a bypass channel.