Portable Laboratories in Suitcases Utilizing Microfluidic Chips for Identification of Bacteria and Virus Pathogens as a New tool of EU Countries Biological Threats Defense Strategy

Rapid and precise identification of biological pathogens has been always priority of epidemiological services. Due to importance of results of the analyses (it is often a matter of human's life) identification of the pathogens is carried out by the use of well-established methodologies - real-time PCR or/and gel electrophoresis. These molecular diagnostics methods require dedicated instruments that operate in specialized laboratories. The problem of biological pathogens identification arise when probability of bioattack increase or uncontrolled migration of huge number of people occur. Then an optimal solution is a mobile laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation - also portable - for rapid and precise identification of the pathogens. In this paper we present unique application of microfluidic devices that are parts of so called “laboratories in suitcases”. It is probably the only such application of microfluidics. Usefulness of the devices has been tested under laboratory and real filed tests. Developed by us instruments are applied in Polish mobile laboratory for detection and identification of pathogens. The laboratory is a part of national strategy of biological threats defense.