Pocket Centrifuges: Building a 20-Cent Centrifuge for Global Health Applications

Centrifugation is critical to most diagnostic assays, but the infrastructure requirements (cost, electricity) of centrifugation present a significant barrier to low-cost, point-of-care diagnostics. I will describe the design and implementation of an ultra-fast centrifuge that is low-cost (20-cents), light-weight, and operates on human-power, to deliver up to 30,000xg.

The instrument can be easily disposed (use-and-throw centrifugation) and can be carried to remote locations in the field (fits in a pocket).

Using centrifugal microfluidics, we are able to isolate plasma from whole blood in less than 2 mins. I will also highlight easy-incorporation of quantitative buffy coat (QBC) technique for Malaria diagnostics.