A comparative analytical study on reagent-fused silica gel plate and wax painted paper-based microfluidic device for serological testing

The detection and identification of body fluids at a crime scene shed light on the events which might have occurred and the people involved in the crime; the techniques used being lengthy, makes the on-scene detection a tough process to carry out and handle. This study aims to develop an on-spot detection method for serological testing using silica gel encapsulation technique and a modified microfluidic paper-based analytical device (mu PADs). Kastle-Meyer reagent was incorporated into the mu PAD and Silica Gel plate and was subsequently validated for the detection of blood. This study revealed that the mu PAD was a better option. The emerging technique of mu PAD allows a cost-effective and simple method of detection for body fluids. The fibrous network of the paper is manipulated to fabricate a guided channel for the fluid flow. The guided channels in the modified mu PAD were fabricated by patterning a hydrophobic barrier out of wax. The analyte of interest for this study is blood but the principle can be modified to include other biological fluids. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.