Low-cost diagnostic

The demand for mass-producible, low-cost diagnostic chips has had a significant impact on the development trends for optical sensor platforms. Arguably the most important characteristics of recent systems are the integration of multiple functionalities onto a single platform, the ability to perform multianalyte detection and the production of low-cost sensor platforms. These strategies are intended to maximise the viability of a device for development as a commercial product. 

One very prominent area, which is only rather loosely connected to pharmaceutical fields, but which is nevertheless an essential aspect of health-related research, and in which cellulose-based materials, namely different paper types, play a fundamental role, is the development of paper-based disposable point-of-care diagnostics tools and low-cost diagnostics tools [49-51], Although the concept of using cellulose-based materials as an essential part is not new as such—basically every commercially available lateral flow immunoassay (e.g., pregnancy tests) contains a specialized paper as an integral part—the development of devices completely made out of paper-like materials has revolutionized the field, and surprisingly simple but powerful devices made out of paper have been developed and tested rmder real conditions in field trials various assay formats have been realized, and it is expected that these devices will have an impact on health care systems due to their cost-effectiveness. 

Because high quaHty, low cost, and optimum performance are required for spray equipment, improved analytical and experimental tools are iadispensable for increasing productivity ia many competitive iadustries. In most iastances, it is no longer adequate to characterize a spray solely on the basis of flow rate and spray pattern. Information on droplet size, velocity, volume flux, and number density is often needed and can be determined usiag advanced laser diagnostic techniques. These improvements have benefited a wide spectmm of consumer and specialized iadustrial products. 

Table 5.5 shows the main characteristics of UV spectrophotometry as applied to polymer/additive analysis. Growing interest in automatic sample processing looks upon spectrophotometry as a convenient detection technique due to the relatively low cost of the equipment and easy and cheap maintenance. The main advantage of UV/VIS spectroscopy is its extreme sensitivity, which permits typical absorption detection limits in solution of 10-5 M (conventional transmission) to 10 7 M (photoacoustic). The use of low concentrations of substrates gives relatively ideal solutions [20]. As UV/VIS spectra of analytes in solution show little fine structure, the technique is of relatively low diagnostic value on the other hand, it is one of the most widely used for quantitative analysis. Absorption of UV/VIS light is quantitatively highly accurate. The simple linear relationship between... 

It is important to note that the enhancements mentioned above are achievable using current planar microfabrication techniques and the resultant sensor chips are mass-producible, low-cost and disposable and also have the potential to be integrated into a variety of diagnostic microsystems. This work has significant implications for the production of low-cost, yet efficient measurement platforms for applications in modem society. 

Yet, color reactions have not become obsolete. Because of their simplicity and relatively low cost, they may be effectively used as initial diagnostic tests for explosive materials. Three examples for their appHcation are discussed herewith ... 

The increased solvent requirements for LC-NMR over tube NMR make the technique expensive if fully deuterated solvents are used. D2O is usually substituted for H2O in the eluent, mainly because of its low cost ( 150 per 1), but also because it provides a lock solvent for the NMR. Fully deuterated organic modifiers such as 3-acetonitrile may not be absolutely required, but in practice they are often also used in many pharmaceutical laboratories as they give reduced solvent signals. This reduces the need for solvent suppression, which lessens the risk that diagnostic resonances are also suppressed in error. 

Our investigation was aimed at the development of the instrumental method for the diagnostics of BL with the help of the immune SPR-based biosensor which is able to determine viral specific Ab in the blood and milk serum. Such a biosensor should provide (1) direct analysis without any additional reagents (2) obtaining results within 3-5 min (3) use of miUc samples instead of blood and (4) low cost analysis (less than ELISA). 

P. Liepold, H. Wieder, H. Hillebrandt, A. Friebel and G. Hartwich, DNA-arrays with electrical detection a label-free low cost technology for routine use in life sciences and diagnostics, Bioelectrochemistry, 67 (2005) 143-150. 

Healthcare personalized access for individuals, relatives, care givers, and other specialists to real-time or historical information generated by wearable sensors, implantable devices, or home-based diagnostics units will facilitate the movement towards home- or community-based healthcare rather than the current, unsustainable, hospital-centric model in the developed world. In addition, access to low cost communications and diagnostics will also provide a means to rapidly improve the delivery of healthcare in less well-developed regions. 

Applications of electrochemical transducers have relied on conventional and bulky disk (C, Au) or mercury drop electrodes, as well as on mass-producible, single-use, thick-film carbon screen-printed electrodes. The sensitivity of such devices, coupled to their compatibility with modern microfabrication technologies, portability, low cost (disposability), minimal power requirements, and independence of sample turbidity or optical pathway, make them excellent candidates for DNA diagnostics. In addition, electrochem-... 

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