Suitable micropumping methods for flow control represent a major technical hurdle in thedevelopment of microfluidic systems for point-of-care testing (POCT). Passive micropumpingfor point-of-care microfluidic systems provides a promising solution to such challenges,in particular, passive micropumping based on capillary force and air transfer based on theair solubility and air permeability of specific materials. There have been numerousdevelopments and applications of micropumping techniques that are relevant to the use inPOCT. Compared with active pumping methods such as syringe pumps or pressure pumps, wherethe flow rate can be well-tuned independent of the design of the microfluidic devices orthe property of the liquids, most passive micropumping methods still suffer flow-controlproblems. For example, the flow rate may be set once the device has been made, and theproperties of liquids may affect the flow rate. However, the advantages of passivemicropumping, which include simplicity, ease of use, and low cost, make it the best choicefor POCT. Here, we present a systematic review of different types of passive micropumpingthat are suitable for POCT, alongside existing applications based on passive micropumping.Future trends in passive micropumping are also discussed.
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