A review examines paper-based microfluidic analytical devices as rapid, portable tools for forensic and clinical toxicology, including drug detection.
Forensic scientists, clinical toxicologists, emergency medicine physicians, and analytical device developers.
Rapid point-of-needPaper-based devices offer rapid, cost-effective drug detection for forensic and clinical settings
What the researchers found
Paper-based microfluidic devices offer promising rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective approaches for point-of-need drug detection in forensic and clinical toxicology settings.
Why it matters
Rapid on-the-spot drug detection could transform forensic and clinical practice by enabling immediate results at the point of need rather than requiring laboratory analysis with long turnaround times.
The numbers in context
The review covers paper-based microfluidic analytical devices for use in nonspecialized laboratories and at the point of need.
How the study worked
Review of paper-based microfluidic analytical device technology for forensic and clinical toxicology applications.
Who was studied
Paper-based microfluidic devices evaluated for forensic and clinical drug detection applications.
What this study cannot tell us
Technology is still developing; sensitivity and specificity may not match laboratory methods; environmental conditions can affect paper-based assay performance; regulatory approval for clinical use is pending.
How to read the evidence
Technology review; assesses device capabilities rather than clinical outcomes.
When this study was published
Recent review of an emerging analytical technology.
The bigger picture
Point-of-need drug testing could transform emergency medicine, workplace safety, and forensic toxicology by providing immediate actionable results at the bedside, roadside, or crime scene.
Replication
Emerging technology review; devices in various stages of development and validation.
Funding
Not specified
Conflicts of interest
Not specified
Questions still open
- Can paper-based tests detect cannabinoids reliably?
- How do these compare to commercial rapid drug tests?
- What is the pathway to clinical regulatory approval?
Read the original research
Application of Paper-Based Microfluidic Analytical Devices (µPAD) in Forensic and Clinical Toxicology: A Review.
Biosensors, 13(7)
Citation
Musile, Giacomo; Grazioli, Cristian; Fornasaro, Stefano; Dossi, Nicolò; De Palo, Elio Franco; Tagliaro, Franco; Bortolotti, Federica. (2023). Application of Paper-Based Microfluidic Analytical Devices (µPAD) in Forensic and Clinical Toxicology: A Review.. Biosensors, 13(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/bios13070743