Low-cost, point-of-care biomarker quantification

Abstract

Low-cost, point-of-care (POC) devices that allow fast, on-site disease diagnosis could have a major global health impact, particularly if they can provide quantitative measurement of molecules indicative of a diseased state (biomarkers). Accurate quantification of biomarkers in patient samples is already challenging when research-grade, sophisticated equipment is available; it is even more difficult when constrained to simple, cost-effective POC platforms. Here, we summarize the main challenges to accurate, low-cost POC biomarker quantification. We also review recent efforts to develop and implement POC tools beyond qualitative readouts, and we conclude by identifying important future research directions.

Figure 1.

Promising platforms for POC diagnostics. Adapted from Voyvodic et al.[51] (A) Modular sensing platforms. A single output module can be combined with different, biomarker-specific detection modules. (B) Multiplex assays. A single detection module can be used to detect different biomarkers within the patient sample.