Effects of antibiotic suppression on three healthcare systems' National Healthcare Safety Network Antibiotic Resistance Option data.

Objective: The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Option is a valuable tool that can be used by acute-care hospitals to track and report antibiotic resistance rate data. Selective and cascading reporting results in suppressed antibiotic susceptibility results and has the potential to adversely affect what data are submitted into the NHSN AR Option. We describe the effects of antibiotic suppression on NHSN AR Option data.

An integratable microfluidic cartridge for forensic swab samples lysis.

Fully automated rapid forensic DNA analysis requires integrating several multistep processes onto a single microfluidic platform, including substrate lysis, extraction of DNA from the released lysate solution, multiplexed PCR amplification of STR loci, separation of PCR products by capillary electrophoresis, and analysis for allelic peak calling. Over the past several years, most of the rapid DNA analysis systems developed started with the reference swab sample lysate and involved an off-chip lysis of collected substrates. As a result of advancement in technology and chemistry, addition of a microfluidic module for swab sample lysis has been achieved in a few of the rapid DNA analysis systems.

A tuneable array of unique steady-state microfluidic gradients.

We report an on-chip gradient generator that has been designed, modelled, fabricated, and characterized to facilitate temporal tuning of several unique gradients in parallel for multiple applications. This design allows for steady state programming of the intensities across multiple orders of magnitude while producing exponential, linear, and logarithmic gradient profiles. The magnitude of the gradients is controlled through regulating the ratio of the two on-chip flow inlets without the need for valves or other active mixers.

Optimization of multiplexed PCR on an integrated microfluidic forensic platform for rapid DNA analysis.

This study reports the design, prototyping, and assay development of multiplexed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a plastic microfluidic device. Amplification of 17 DNA loci is carried out directly on-chip as part of a system for continuous workflow processing from sample preparation (SP) to capillary electrophoresis (CE). For enhanced performance of on-chip PCR amplification, improved control systems have been developed making use of customized Peltier assemblies, valve actuators, software, and amplification chemistry protocols.

Direct loading of polymer matrices in plastic microchips for rapid DNA analysis: a comparative study.

We report the design and performance validation of microfluidic separation technologies for human identification using a disposable plastic device suitable for integration into an automated rapid DNA analysis system. A fabrication process for a 15-cm long hot-embossed plastic microfluidic devices with a smooth semielliptical cross section out of cyclic olefin copolymer is presented. We propose a mixed polymer solution of 95% w/v hydroxyethylcellulose and 5% w/v polyvinylpyrrolidone for a final polymer concentration of 2.

An automated instrument for human STR identification: design, characterization, and experimental validation.

The microfluidic integration of an entire DNA analysis workflow on a fully integrated miniaturized instrument is reported using lab-on-a-chip automation to perform DNA fingerprinting compatible with CODIS standard relevant to the forensic community. The instrument aims to improve the cost, duration, and ease of use to perform a "sample-to-profile" analysis with no need for human intervention. The present publication describes the operation of the three major components of the system: the electronic control components, the microfluidic cartridge and CE microchip, and the optical excitation/detection module.

Integrated microfluidic system for rapid forensic DNA analysis: sample collection to DNA profile.

We demonstrate a conduit for the delivery of a step change in the DNA analysis process: A fully integrated instrument for the analysis of multiplex short tandem repeat DNA profiles from reference buccal samples is described and is suitable for the processing of such samples within a forensic environment such as a police custody suite or booking office. The instrument is loaded with a DNA processing cartridge which incorporates on-board pumps and valves which direct the delivery of sample and reagents to the various reaction chambers to allow DNA purification, amplification of the DNA by PCR, and collection of the amplified product for delivery to an integral CE chip. The fluorescently labeled product is separated using micro capillary electrophoresis with a resolution of 1.

On chip cell separator using magnetic bead-based enrichment and depletion of various surface markers.

This paper presents an on-chip magnetic cell sorting system for the sorting of cells based on a variety of surface markers. A polymer lab on a chip integrated with an electroplated array of Ni/Fe permalloy has been designed, fabricated, and characterized for the separation of cell substitutes at a variety of flow rates and incubation times. The system sequentially labels cell substitutes with magnetic beads and sorts them, repeating this process to sort for a variety of surface markers.