Smartphone-based point-of-care multiplexed-genes detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on a low-cost paper/polymer hybrid microfluidic device

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) bacteria is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with the highest disease burden occurring in developing countries. The existing diagnostic methods either have low sensitivity and specificity or need bulky and expensive instruments, which limit their broad application, especially in resource-limited settings. To address this need, we have developed a paper/polymer hybrid microfluidic platform integrated with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique for rapid, sensitive, specific, and instrument-free multiplexed-genes detection of M.tb.