Rapid Benchtop Fabrication Method of 3D Microfluidic Solenoid Channels for Point-of-Care Testing for Early Detection of Viral Infection

Microfluidic device fabrication is primarily done in cleanrooms with expensive equipment for photolithography with a considerable number of steps for fabrication, which results in high cost and complexity. This paper introduces our rapid, low-cost, benchtop microfluidic device fabrication apparatus and method for fabricating three-dimensional solenoids around a hollow, microfluidic channel. A micro-coil winding apparatus design and results are shown, and fabrication steps for making a hollow 3D microfluidic solenoid channel are described. The target application is detecting antigens in nasal or oral swap samples that contain very few antigens in the initial stage of viral infection. The goal is to reduce the number of false negatives, which is a known issue in lateral flow immunoassay tests used in point-of-care, rapid antigen test kits. Ultimately, reducing the occurrence of false negatives in portable, rapid test kits can help slow the spread of contagion.