MICROFLUIDIC DROPLET-BASED ASSAY PROCESS AND APPARATUS

摘要

The invention provides for a microfluidic droplet-based assay process and apparatus, wherein the process comprises the step of creating several assay droplets (18) containing paramagnetic particles (22, 22′), detectable markers (24), and at least one biological cell (10), wherein the paramagnetic particles (22, 22′) and the detectable markers (24) are able to bind with a target analyte (16) released by the cell, wherein the process includes storing several assay droplets along a horizontal storage plane, includes the generation of a magnetic field through the stored assay droplets, and includes detecting a physical characteristic of the detectable markers contained in a given assay droplet by optical imaging of the detectable markers, characterized in that the generation of a magnetic field generates a magnetic field such that the paramagnetic particles are attracted towards a lateral and inferior portion of the given stored assay droplet in which they are contained.