A portable droplet magnetofluidic platform for automated RNA quantification and analysis

We report a miniaturized droplet magnetofluidic assay system on a cartridge smaller than 1 cubic inch for automated purification, amplification and melt analysis of RNA targets. This platform demonstrates quantification and confirmation of nucleic acid targets through post­amplification analysis with comparable performance to benchtop reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assays. Implementation of precise thermoelectric temperature control comparable to benchtop assay systems circumvents functional limitations of diagnostic tests that are currently deployed at the point of care.