Lab-on-a-chip

A lab-on-a-chip (LOC) is a device that integrates one or several laboratory functions on a single chip of only millimeters to a few square centimeters in size. LOCs deal with the handling of extremely small fluid volumes down to less than pico liters. Lab-on-a-chip devices are a subset of MEMS devices and often indicated by "Micro Total Analysis Systems" (µTAS) as well. Microfluidics is a broader term that describes also mechanical flow control devices like pumps and valves or sensors like flowmeters and viscometers. However, strictly regarded "Lab-on-a-Chip" indicates generally the scaling of single or multiple lab processes down to chip-format, whereas "µTAS" is dedicated to the integration of the total sequence of lab processes to perform chemical analysis. The term "Lab-on-a-Chip" was introduced later on when it turned out that µTAS technologies were more widely applicable than only for analysis purposes.

Lab-on-a-chip made of glass

Further information:

1. (2003) Edwin Oosterbroek & A. van den Berg (eds.): Lab-on-a-Chip: Miniaturized systems for (bio)chemical analysis and synthesis, Elsevier Science, second edition, 402 pages
2. (2004) Geschke, Klank & Telleman, eds.: Microsystem Engineering of Lab-on-a-chip Devices, 1st ed, John Wiley & Sons
3. (2009) Herold, KE; Rasooly, A (eds). Lab-on-a-Chip Technology: Fabrication and Microfluidics. Caister Academic Press
4. (2009) Herold, KE; Rasooly, A (eds). Lab-on-a-Chip Technology: Biomolecular Separation and Analysis. Caister Academic Press
5. Paul Yager; Thayne Edwards, Elain Fu, Kristen Helton, Kjell Nelson, Milton R. Tam & Bernhard H. Weigl (July 2006). "Microfluidic diagnostic technologies for global public health". Nature 442 (7101): 412–418
6. Article Lab-on-a-chip from Wikipedia, the Free Enciclopedia. Available under the license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike.

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