I-Corps: ABO-Rh Blood Type Identification Using Dielectrophoretic Microdevice

本研究进一步探讨了红细胞膜上的分子表达如何改变介电特性，这在介电微器件中是可识别的。这一科学发现的直接应用是ABO-Rh血型，它们是形态相似的细胞，其表型仅因多糖表面抗原的表达而不同，表现出不同的极化反应。这一发现的第二个应用是使用基线ABO-Rh反应来确定血液是否处于病变状态。未来的进展将纠正ABO-Rh血型设备在知识和商业化实用性方面的不足：1)确定识别医学诊断分子表达的最大商业效用；2)通过实验获得八种血型（A+, B+, AB+, O+, A-, B-， AB-和O-）的每种组合的独特特征；3)通过抗原修饰证明ABO/Rh抗原的科学基础？S对血细胞的有效极化率的影响，从而观察到介电泳反应。这项工作是对科学知识的重要补充，是医学诊断中抗原/抗体分子识别反应的有力替代。因此，这种电场介导的方法可以在没有易腐试剂的情况下进行更快速的分析。目前的医疗诊断依赖于在集中分析实验室进行昂贵且耗时的血液检测。该研究团队的电动微设备技术可以用更便宜的即时护理设备取代离线实验室分析，这些设备具有用户友好的操作，可以产生快速的结果，并具有同等的可靠性。目前，美国每年有8400万次血型，1600万次献血，目前的协议需要4次或更多的测试来减少致命的输血。目前的技术每次测试的成本约为95美元，而电动方法每次测试的成本可能低至5美元（可重复使用）10美元（一次性使用）。这项技术有可能简化紧急输血的准备工作，同时降低管理费用和成本。它也有可能把血型从传统的医学实验室带到急诊医疗人员和第三世界卫生组织的手中。

This research further investigates how molecular expression on red blood cell membranes alters the dielectric properties, which are discernable in a dielectrophoretic microdevice. The immediate application for this scientific finding is that ABO-Rh blood types, which are morphologically similar cells whose phenotype differs only by expression of a polysaccharide surface antigen exhibit different polarization responses. A secondary application for this finding is to use the baseline ABO-Rh responses to determine if the blood is in a diseased state. Future progress will correct remaining deficiencies in knowledge and commercialize-able practicality of the ABO-Rh blood typing device by 1) identifying the greatest commercial utility in discerning molecular expression for medical diagnostics, 2) experimentally achieving unique signatures for every combination of the eight blood types (A+, B+, AB+, O+, A-, B-, AB-, and O-), 3) demonstrating via antigen modification, the scientific basis for the ABO/Rh antigen?s impact on the effective polarizability of the blood cell and thus the observed dielectrophoretic response. This work is a significant addition to scientific knowledge and is a powerful alternative to antigen/antibody molecular recognition reactions for medical diagnosis. Thus, this electric field mediated approach enables more rapid analysis without perishable reagents.Current medical diagnosis relies on expensive and time-consuming blood tests in centralized analytical laboratories. The research team's electrokinetic microdevice technology could replace off-line lab analysis with significantly less-expensive point-of-care devices featuring user-friendly operation that produces rapid results with equivalent reliability. There are currently 84 million blood typings per year in the U.S., 16 million donations, and current protocols require 4 or more tests to minimize fatal transfusions. Current technology cost ~$95 per test, while the electrokinetic approach could cost as low as $5 (reusable) $10 (single-use) per test. This technology has the potential to streamline preparations during emergency blood transfusions, while reducing overhead and costs. It also has the potential to take blood typing outside of the traditional medical laboratory and into the hands of emergency medical personnel such as EMTs and third world health organizations.