Protein Chip Promises Cheaper Diagnostics

摘要

Ever since recent advances made it possible to study thousands of genes and proteins at once, researchers have dreamed of nipping diseases in the bud by spotting telltale proteins with simple blood tests. So far, that vision remains a long way off. Few individual proteins in blood and tissues have proven to be conclusive indicators of disease. Even if they were, clinical lab tests that measure proteins don't come cheap. Standard diagnostic panels can cost $50 each or more. At that price, scanning millions of patients for dozens or more proteins would cost a fortune. But new glass and plastic microfluidic chips could begin to change that equation.