Stand-alone system for inflammation analysis

In the present paper a novel optical system for the monitoring and measurement of different analytes in Point of Care Testing (POCT) is presented. It is based on an optical biochip constituted by a two-piece polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) chip, with 13 microchannels through which the analysed sample flows. The sensing layer, where the immunochemical reaction takes place, is located on the bottom side of the upper piece of the PMMA chip. All the electronic, optoelectronic and fluidics component are embedded in a portable instrument that is totally controlled by software. Preliminary tests on C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) immunoassay are reported. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.