A portable droplet magnetofluidic platform for automated RNA quantification and analysis

We report a miniaturized droplet magnetofluidic assay system on a cartridge smaller than 1 cubic inch for automated purification, amplification and melt analysis of RNA targets. This platform demonstrates quantification and confirmation of nucleic acid targets through postamplification analysis with comparable performance to benchtop reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assays. Implementation of precise thermoelectric temperature control comparable to benchtop assay systems circumvents functional limitations of diagnostic tests that are currently deployed at the point of care.