Authors: Pallavi Srivastava
Abstract: In low-resource environments, diagnostic tools must prioritize affordability while also delivering accuracy, reliability, and durability suited to the unique challenges of the developing world. In recent years, global health diagnostics using minimally instrumented, microfluidic platforms with low-cost disposable components have gained momentum, driven in part by funding from organizations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. This surge in interest has resulted in a variety of promising prototype devices, many of which are undergoing advanced development or clinical testing. These include systems capable of multiplexed PCR assays targeting enteric, febrile, and reproductive tract infections, as well as immunoassays for conditions like malaria, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections. More recent innovations feature fully disposable diagnostics that operate without instruments, utilizing isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques. Despite these advancements, scalable and truly low-cost manufacturing methods remain a major hurdle in creating affordable diagnostic solutions at volume. This overview highlights current platform development efforts, includes original research conducted at PATH, and emphasizes the need for continued action and innovation in this field.
