Miniaturization through lab-on-a-chip: Utopia or reality for routine laboratories? A review

Micro total analysis (μTAS), also called “lab-on-a-chip (LOC)” technology, promises solutions for high throughput and highly specific analysis for chemistry, biology and medicine, while consuming only tiny amounts of samples, reactants and space. This article reports selected contributions of LOC, which represent clear practical approaches for routine work, or presenting potentiality to be transferred to routine analytical laboratories. Taking into account the present LOC state-of-the-art, we identify various reasons for its scarce implementation in routine analytical laboratories despite its high analytical potential, as well as the probably main “niche” for successfully practical developments is suggested.

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► LOC possibilities on routine laboratories are reviewed.
► LOC selected contributions have demonstrated the practical usefulness.
► LOC features – routine laboratory requirements are discussed.
► Main LOC ‘niche’ for practical developments is pointed out.