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Vázquez M, Anfossi L, Ben-Yoav H, Diéguez L, Karopka T, Della Ventura B, Abalde-Cela S, Minopoli A, Di Nardo F, Shukla VK, Teixeira A, Tvarijonaviciute A, Franco-Martínez L. Use of some cost-effective technologies for a routine clinical pathology laboratory. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 21:4330-4351. [PMID: 34664599 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00658d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Classically, the need for highly sophisticated instruments with important economic costs has been a major limiting factor for clinical pathology laboratories, especially in developing countries. With the aim of making clinical pathology more accessible, a wide variety of free or economical technologies have been developed worldwide in the last few years. 3D printing and Arduino approaches can provide up to 94% economical savings in hardware and instrumentation in comparison to commercial alternatives. The vast selection of point-of-care-tests (POCT) currently available also limits the need for specific instruments or personnel, as they can be used almost anywhere and by anyone. Lastly, there are dozens of free and libre digital tools available in health informatics. This review provides an overview of the state-of-the-art on cost-effective alternatives with applications in routine clinical pathology laboratories. In this context, a variety of technologies including 3D printing and Arduino, lateral flow assays, plasmonic biosensors, and microfluidics, as well as laboratory information systems, are discussed. This review aims to serve as an introduction to different technologies that can make clinical pathology more accessible and, therefore, contribute to achieve universal health coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Vázquez
- National Centre For Sensor Research, School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Laura Anfossi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Giuria, 5, I-10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Hadar Ben-Yoav
- Nanobioelectronics Laboratory (NBEL), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ilse Katz Institute of Nanoscale Science and Technology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Lorena Diéguez
- Medical Devices Research Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory - INL, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | | | - Bartolomeo Della Ventura
- Department of Physics "E. Pancini", University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 26, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Sara Abalde-Cela
- Medical Devices Research Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory - INL, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Antonio Minopoli
- Department of Physics "E. Pancini", University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 26, I-80126 Napoli, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Nardo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turin, Via Giuria, 5, I-10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Vikas Kumar Shukla
- Nanobioelectronics Laboratory (NBEL), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ilse Katz Institute of Nanoscale Science and Technology, Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Alexandra Teixeira
- Medical Devices Research Group, International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory - INL, 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Asta Tvarijonaviciute
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - Lorena Franco-Martínez
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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Abstract
Volume is an essential characteristic of a cell, and this review describes the main methods of its measurement that have been used in the past several decades. The discussed methods include various implementations of light scattering, estimates based on one or two cell dimensions, surface scanning, fluorescence confocal and transmission slice-by-slice imaging, intracellular volume markers, displacement of extracellular solution, quantitative phase imaging, radioactive methods, and some others. Suitability of these methods to some typical samples and applications is discussed. © 2017 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Model
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
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