Editing Lab-on-a-chip (section)

=== Examples of global LOC application ===
One of the most prominent and well known LOC devices to reach the market is the at home pregnancy test kit, a device that utilizes [[paper-based microfluidics]] technology. 

Another active area of LOC research involves ways to diagnose and manage common [[infectious diseases]] caused by [[bacteria]], e.g. [[bacteriuria]], or [[virus]]es, e.g. [[influenza]]. A gold standard for diagnosing [[bacteriuria]] ([[urinary tract infections]]) is [[microbial culture]]. A recent study based on lab-on-a-chip technology, Digital Dipstick,<ref name="IseriBiggel2020">{{cite journal|last1=Iseri|first1=Emre|last2=Biggel|first2=Michael|last3=Goossens|first3=Herman|last4=Moons|first4=Pieter|last5=van der Wijngaart|first5=Wouter|title=Digital dipstick: miniaturized bacteria detection and digital quantification for the point-of-care|journal=Lab on a Chip|year=2020|volume=20|issue=23|pages=4349–4356|issn=1473-0197|doi=10.1039/D0LC00793E|pmid=33169747|doi-access=free}}</ref> miniaturised [[microbiological culture]] into a dipstick format and enabled it to be used at the [[point-of-care]]. Lab-on-a-chip technology can also be useful for the diagnosis and management of viral infections. In 2023, researchers developed a working prototype of an [[RT-LAMP]] lab-on-a-chip system called LoCKAmp, which provided results for [[SARS-CoV-2]] tests within three minutes.<ref name="pmid37740394">{{cite journal |vauthors=Papamatthaiou S, Boxall-Clasby J, Douglas EJ, Jajesniak P, Peyret H, Mercer-Chalmers J, Kumar VK, Lomonossoff GP, Reboud J, Laabei M, Cooper JM, Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Moschou D |title=LoCKAmp: lab-on-PCB technology for <3 minute virus genetic detection |journal=[[Lab on a Chip]] |volume=23 |issue=20 |pages=4400–4412 |date=October 2023 |pmid=37740394 |pmc=10563828 |doi=10.1039/d3lc00441d}}</ref><ref name="Engineer 2023">{{cite web |title=LoCKAmp diagnosis device hailed as 'world's fastest Covid test' |website=[[The Engineer (UK magazine)|The Engineer]] |date=2 November 2023 |url=https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/lockamp-diagnosis-device-hailed-as-world-s-fastest-covid-test/ |access-date=29 October 2024}}</ref> Managing [[HIV]] infections is another area where lab-on-a-chips may be useful. Around 36.9 million people are infected with HIV in the world today, and 59% of these people receive [[anti-retroviral]] treatment. Only 75% of people living with HIV knew their status.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet|title = Global HIV & AIDS statistics — 2019 fact sheet}}</ref>  Measuring the number of [[CD4+ T lymphocytes]] in a person's blood is an accurate way to determine if a person has HIV and to track the progress of an HIV infection.{{Citation needed|date=May 2018}} At the moment, flow [[cytometry]] is the gold standard for obtaining CD4 counts, but flow cytometry is a complicated technique that is not available in most developing areas because it requires trained technicians and expensive equipment. Recently such a cytometer was developed for just $5.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ozcan|first=Aydogan|title=Diagnosis in the palm of your hand|url=http://dailybruin.com/2011/08/21/43312-8-22-radio-diagnosis/|work=Multimedia::Cytometer|publisher=The Daily Bruin|access-date=26 January 2015}}</ref> 
Another active area of LOC research is for controlled separation and mixing.  In such devices it is possible to quickly diagnose and potentially treat diseases. As mentioned above, a big motivation for development of these is that they can potentially be manufactured at very low cost.<ref name="researchgate.net"/>  One more area of research that is being looked into with regards to LOC is with home security.  Automated monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a desired functionality for LOC.  If this application becomes reliable, these micro-devices could be installed on a global scale and notify homeowners of potentially dangerous compounds.<ref>{{cite journal |doi =10.1038/micronano.2015.39|title =Chip-scale gas chromatography: From injection through detection|journal =Microsystems & Nanoengineering|volume =1|year =2015|last1 =Akbar|first1 =Muhammad|last2 =Restaino|first2 =Michael|last3 =Agah|first3 =Masoud|issue =1|page =15039|doi-access =free|bibcode =2015MicNa...115039A}}</ref>