The researchers wanted to create a device that could address the current issues with manual blood tests. Credit: biologycorner.

Researchers at Rutgers University in the US have developed an end-to-end blood test device that combines robotic phlebotomy with downstream sample processing to draw blood and provide diagnostic results with rapid turnaround times at the point of care.

The device has the potential to accelerate hospital work-flow and enable practitioners to devote more time to treating patients.

Research regarding the test has been published in a paper in the journal TECHNOLOGY.

Senior author of the paper Dr Martin Yarmush said: “This device represents the holy grail in blood testing technology. Integrating miniaturized robotic and microfluidic systems, this technology combines the breadth and accuracy of traditional laboratory testing with the speed and convenience of point-of-care testing.”

The researchers wanted to create a device that could address the current issues with manual blood tests. These issues include draw success rates being dependent on clinician skill and patient physiology as well as the time it takes to generate results in centralised labs from large-volume samples using labour-intensive analytical techniques.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

To address these issues, the team of researchers designed the blood test device so it included an image-guided venipuncture robot able address the challenges of routine venous access, with a centrifuge-based blood analyser to obtain quantitative measurements of haematology.

In the paper, the researchers presented results for a white blood cell assay, using a blood-mimicking fluid containing fluorescent microbeads. Studies were conducted on the integrated device, from blood draw to analysis, using blood vessel phantoms. High accuracy and repeatability of the cannulation and resulting white blood cell assay was demonstrated.

First author of the paper Dr Max Balter said: “When designing the system, our focus was on creating a modular and expandable device. With our relatively simple chip design and analysis techniques, the device can be extended to incorporate a broader panel of assays in the future.”