What is a Lab-On-A-Chip Device?

Posted by Zepto Life Technology, LLC on January 14th, 2020

As the name suggests, a lab-on-a-chip device is a device that are miniaturized versions of chemistry or biomedical laboratories. Until now we now of laboratories of any kind to be big and large having huge machines that are used for various analytical and diagnostic purposes. The development of the nanotechnology along with microfluidics has given to the evolution of lab-on-a –chip devices. These devices have a network of electrical circuits, sensors, electrodes and micro channels.

Working of the Lab-on-a-chip Devices

The lab-on-a-chip devices or LOCs as they are better known work as the electrodes are strategically placed on the chip. The operations and liquid flow on the chip are controlled by the application of electrical fields along the micro channels. In their placement and working, the labs on a chip actually duplicate the functions that are conducted in big rooms and laboratories and these functions include DNA scanning, clinical diagnostics and electrophoretic separation.

The advantage of using the lab-on-a-chip device is that there is a dramatic reduction in the size of the sample required for analysis and diagnosis. In addition, the reaction time is shorter with high throughput, portability and automation.

Applications of the Lab-on-a-chip Device

The best use of the lab-on-a-chip device is in the field of diagnostics. It is very useful to use such devices in areas and at sites that have minimal to no access to laboratories. 

It can be used in RNA or DNA sequencing and for protein crystalline studies.

The lab-on-a-chip devices require smaller amounts of samples as they work on the microfluidic technology. This means that the requirement of expensive reagents that are otherwise required for diagnostics can be reduced. This is especially beneficial where lab tests for diseases like syphilis, Lyme disease and HIV need to be conducted.

These devices can be helpful in promoting new research as they can work on small quantities of samples as compared to traditional tests where large sample volumes are required to get precise results.

Skilled labor is required to conduct the tests in a lab but with lab-on-a-chip devices, most of the work is automated while the results are quicker, more sensitive and accurate. This capability of the LOCs is very helpful in researching on disorders of the central nervous system such as the Parkinson’s disease as researchers need not extract large volumes of cerebrospinal fluid to perform assays.

There is no denying the fact that microfluidics, which is the basis for lab-on-a-chip technology has its drawbacks. However, research is still being carried on to make the technique commercial. Companies like Zepto Life Technology have developed the lab-on-chip device changing the face of Liquid Biopsy Cancer Detection and clinical laboratory testing. For those companies and medical centers looking for lab on a chip in Boston, Zepto is the company to get in touch with.

It is the lab-on-a-chip devices that have paved the way for liquid biopsy cancer detection. All those looking for high quality lab on a chip in New York or lab on a chip in Massachusetts can contact Zepto Life Technology.