Bulletin No. 1, 2014

One-step DNA Assay and Allergen Testing  29  LOAD can also be used for cell-based tests to identify allergens that cause allergic reactions. At present, the general practice is to apply allergic substances on a patient’s skin directly to see if allergic symptoms appear. This process may cause discomfort and may even have harmful effects. The whole process of LOAD is conducted outside the human body, and four samples can be assayed simultaneously, in a safe and efficient manner. Professor Ho said, ‘It has been some years that I have been aware of the need to integrate microelectronics with biomedical devices. The project started about five years ago when a research student and I surveyed the lab-on-a-chip literature and identified the lab-on-a-disc idea to be something worthy of our effort.’ The key to LOAD’s success lies in the integration of ideas and knowledge through multidisciplinary collaboration. As pointed out by Professor Ho, ‘Professor Kong identified specific experiments that may have good impact and a reasonable chance of success. Professor Kwan has discovered a genetic test directly related to allergy to a drug used for treating pain. This sets a framework for the research.’ The next phase is to develop a completely integrated LOAD system that contains a disposable disc with a range of microfluidic components for different applications, and an electronic platform to work with the disc to carry out flow actuation, sample heating, signal excitation and detection. Professor Ho will develop the system into a platform for performing a wide range of medical tests simultaneously at low-cost. He hopes to launch it in the market in several years’ time.