Scientists at Columbia Engineering have developed a diagnostic test that leverages a microfluidic approach to detect Lyme disease within 15 minutes.
Existing tests involve running of two assays, ELISA and western blot, to identify antibodies against the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium, which causes Lyme disease.
The tests also require experienced lab personnel and deliver results in a few hours, noted the researchers.
Columbia Engineering biomedical engineering professor Sam Sia said: “Our findings are the first to demonstrate that Lyme disease diagnosis can be carried out in a microfluidic format that can provide rapid quantitative results.
