Authors

Discussion

Current diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni uses faecal samples to measure eggs per gram of stool using Kato-Katz thick smears. There is now an opportunity to develop a microfluidic test to analyse genomic information – testing for species and if necessary drug-resistant strains. Such techniques have traditionally been time-consuming, requiring expensive laboratory equipment and power supplies.

We have developed a new design for a rapid, point-of-care, highly sensitive stool-based test to detect S. mansoni (eggs), and Schistosoma hybrids using a low-cost, disposable system to separate the eggs, using flotation in a handheld format. The system integrates with a paper-based multiplexed nucleic acid test for infection detection. The device brings reagents together through an origami style folding with the output read visually with a lateral flow assay. Microfluidic flow will be enabled passively through capillarity within the interstitial space of the paper. Flow control and assay timing will be tuned by using different cellulose matrices. These devices will be tested in the field in Uganda in March 2017.