Escola Superior de Biotecnologia | Online
Please join us on the 29th of April 2022 starting at 14:15.
Summary
Screening tests represent a vital strategy to identify undiagnosed potential health issues, even with asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic or unrecognized symptomatic diseases. In this context, screening tests are often intended to be used in apparently healthy individuals. The idea is to attain an earlier diagnosis enabling a more efficient course of action. However, if a faster diagnose results in a faster decision on the course of action, then it is crucial that the tool used for diagnose is as accurate and effective as possible. To have an immediate, on-hand response, the use of disposable, self-readable devices applied to non-invasive biological fluids becomes a natural choice for point-of-care testing (POCT). It is not expected that the non-invasive biological fluids, namely saliva and urine, replace blood sample analysis but only to become a frontline screening matrix.
The design and development of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) as simple analytical tools intends to provide a fast, in situ, accurate analytical result. Additionally they can be an efficient, low-cost, hand sized alternative to the conventional monitoring techniques that usually require specialized skills, laborious laboratory processes, and/or expensive equipment. The µPADs simplicity coupled with their portability has enabled the development of devices ideally suited for unskilled operators and frequent monitoring in POCT. A critical discussion over the changing of the paradigm in the analytical chemical and biochemical analysis will be addressed, analyzing and detailing some newly developed methods.
