Editing Digital microfluidics (section)

==== Reduced experimental footprint ====
One of the core advantages of digital microfluidics, and of microfluidics in general, is the use and actuation of picoliter to microliter scale volumes. Workflows adapted from the bench to a DMF system are miniaturized, meaning working volumes are reduced to fractions of what is normally required for conventional methods. For example, Thaitrong et al. developed a DMF system with a [[Capillary electrophoresis|capillary electrophoresis (CE)]] module with the purpose of automating the process of [[Next-generation sequencing|next generation sequencing (NGS)]] library characterization. Compared to an [[Agilent Technologies|Agilent]] BioAnalyzer (an instrument commonly used to measure sequencing library size distribution), the DMF-CE system consumed ten-fold less sample volume.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Thaitrong N, Kim H, Renzi RF, Bartsch MS, Meagher RJ, Patel KD | title = Quality control of next-generation sequencing library through an integrative digital microfluidic platform | journal = Electrophoresis | volume = 33 | issue = 23 | pages = 3506–3513 | date = December 2012 | pmid = 23135807 | doi = 10.1002/elps.201200441 | s2cid = 205802837 }}</ref> Reducing volumes for a workflow can be especially beneficial if the reagents are expensive or when manipulating rare samples such as circulating tumor cells and prenatal samples.<ref name="Ruan_2020" /> Miniaturization also means a reduction in waste product volumes.