Rapid Identification of Multiple Bacteria on a Microfluidic Chip

A microfluidic device was developed to integrate sample introduction, bacteria culture and results reading. The identification of multiple bacteria was achieved by combining the spatial resolution of the arrayed bacteria culture chambers and the color resolution benefited from the bacteria specific chromogenic media. A set of 4 common pathogenic bacteria responsible for urinary tract infection was used as a model to test the microfluidic assay. The results showed that the bacteria identification assay was completed in 15 h, with a limit detection (LOD) of bacteria density down to 101 cfu mL−1. Clinical sample testing using the microchip approach showed a coincidence rate of 96.3% as compared with the conventional method. The developed microfluidic approach is simple and rapid, thus hold the potential to serve as a powerful tool for detection of multiple bacteria.