Miniaturization of Sample Processing for Bioassays

LLNL has recently licensed its hand-held advanced nucleic-acid analyzer, the HANAA, for commercial development. This (as is characteristic of other miniaturized, portable diagnostic instruments being developed around the world) typically still requires manual sample handling and preparation by skilled operators. Dielectrophoretic and acoustic manipulation of fluids and particles are techniques that have shown good promise to reduce the demands on manual sample preparation both for miniature and for table-top instrumentation.