Microwaving blood as a non-destructive technique for haemoglobin measurements on microlitre samples

Toby H. Basey-Fisher*, Nadia Guerra, Chiara Triulzi, Andrew Gregory, Stephen Hanham, Molly M. Stevens, Stefan A. Maier, Norbert Klein

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The non-destructive ex vivo determination of haemoglobin (Hgb) concentration offers the capability to conduct multiple red blood cell haematological measurements on a single sample, an advantage that current optical techniques are unable to offer. Here, a microwave method and device for the accurate and non-destructive determination of Hgb concentration in microlitre blood samples are described. Using broadband microwave spectroscopy, a relationship is established between the dielectric properties of murine blood and Hgb concentration that is utilized to create a technique for the determination of Hgb concentration. Subsequently, a microwave dielectric resonator-microfluidic system is implemented in the analysis of 52 murine samples with microlitre volumes and Hgb concentrations ranging from 0 to 17 g dL-1. Using the characterized relationship, independent and minimally invasive Hgb measurements are made on nine healthy mice as well as seven with mutations in the Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene that leads to colorectal cancer and consequently anaemia. By utilizing a unique frequency window within the microwave dielectric spectrum, a non-destructive means of determining the concentration of haemoglobin within red blood cells is demonstrated. Using a high-Q dielectric resonator, haemoglobin levels are determined on sample volumes smaller than 10 μL. This method may allow for multiple hematological measurements to be conducted on a single sample.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)536-542
Number of pages7
JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials
Volume3
Issue number4
Early online date4 Sept 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2014

Keywords

  • Blood
  • Dielectric
  • Haemoglobin
  • Microwave
  • Resonator

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biomaterials
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Pharmaceutical Science

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