Semi – automated system microfluidic machine for microfilarial detection

Abstract

Lymphatic filariasis, the disease caused by filarial nematodes consists of Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori and transmitted by mosquitoes. The distributions of the disease are Thailand-Myanmar border and southern Thailand. The gold standard technique for filarial detection is thick blood smear staining technique, which has low efficiency and time-consuming. Recently, microfluidic based devices design strategies for pathogen detection. Microfluidic technique offers many advantages for pathogen detection such as miniaturization, small sample volume, portability, shorten the detection time and point-of-care diagnosis. In this study, we develop a semi-automated microfluidic system to detect microfilariae of filarial parasites. The system contains a peristaltic pump with multichannel tank for sample loading and multichannel microfluidic chip. For the semi-automated microfluidic system testing, microfilariae were detected in the microfluidic chip. In conclusion, semi-automated microfluidic system provides a simple, rapid and convenient diagnostic device for microfilariae detection.