Issue 7, 2011

Separation of parasites from human blood using deterministic lateral displacement

Abstract

We present the use of a simple microfluidic technique to separate living parasites from human blood. Parasitic trypanosomatids cause a range of human and animal diseases. African trypanosomes, responsible for human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), live free in the blood and other tissue fluids. Diagnosis relies on detection and due to their often low numbers against an overwhelming background of predominantly red blood cells it is crucial to separate the parasites from the blood. By modifying the method of deterministic lateral displacement, confining parasites and red blood cells in channels of optimized depth which accentuates morphological differences, we were able to achieve separation thus offering a potential route to diagnostics.

Graphical abstract: Separation of parasites from human blood using deterministic lateral displacement

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Nov 2010
Accepted
20 Jan 2011
First published
18 Feb 2011

Lab Chip, 2011,11, 1326-1332

Separation of parasites from human blood using deterministic lateral displacement

S. H. Holm, J. P. Beech, M. P. Barrett and J. O. Tegenfeldt, Lab Chip, 2011, 11, 1326 DOI: 10.1039/C0LC00560F

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