Laboratory on a chip

1998/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna

An important field of medical research is to improve the identification tests of bacteria and viruses. To do this, a Californian biotechnology company has created silicon chips that analyze blood or saliva and quickly identify the pathogen causing the infection. These chips attract certain blood cells, necessary for analysis.

Chip electrodes generate high frequency alternating current and blood cells become electrically positive or negative depending on their nature. If a proper frequency is taken, the bacteria can be attracted by the current and are isolated for further analysis. Four bacteria have already been separated from the blood, including Streptococcus and Staphylococcus.