Portable real-time PCR system using tablet-based fluorescence imaging

The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a key medical tool for diagnosing and monitoring viral infections. Due to the high cost and large size of existing qPCR machines, it is rarely viable for remote and resource-limited areas. A portable and affordable instrument for qPCR could make a significant difference in the accessibility of this important diagnostic technique across the world. In this work, a solution is proposed that uses widely available technology found in mobile phones and tablet computers, integrated with an affordable battery-powered thermal cycler, to cheaply and effectively run real-time PCR reactions. The demonstrated prototype performs 2-step and 3-step PCR reactions, and fluorescence is measured in real time using a tablet-integrated camera. These results serve as a proof-of-concept for the use of smartphones and tablets as quantitative image processing devices to enable portable, battery-powered qPCR instrumentation.