LOAC System Could Revolutionize Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Novel lab-on-a-chip (LOAC) technology has been developed into a fully functional platform that has the potential to revolutionize the practice of clinical and point-of-care (POC) diagnostics.

The EFADchip technology uses electric field-assisted DNA hybridization to accelerate the detection of biological samples on a single chip. This technology uses a dielectric material for both electric field generation and capture probe DNA immobilization, thus avoiding adverse electrochemical effects that can lead to reduced sensitivity and accuracy of detection. The EFADchip is produced using widely available materials and common photolithographic techniques, resulting in a structure that is inherently stable under varying ambient conditions.

Hai Kang Life Corporation Ltd. (HKLife; Hong Kong SAR, China) introduced its field-assisted LOAC (Lab-on-a-Chip) system, the EFADchip technology, at the Cambridge Healthtech Institute's 16th International Molecular Medicine Tri-Conference held in San Francisco (USA) February 25-27, 2009.

The novel technology accelerates the migration of DNA to the reactive sites within the chip, thereby enabling specific hybridization in minutes without the undesirable impact of electrochemical reactions. It employs a signal detection system that does not require fluorescence. The system has the potential to be customized for specific market applications including molecular diagnostics, drug discovery, bio-security, and forensics. It will provide a portable and low-cost detection solution, enabling throughput screening for simple or multiple dangerous diseases, a precursor to a bio-radar surveillance system.

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