Table 5 Performance of proof-of-concept platforms based on microfluidics for malaria detection

Molecular analysis

Paper-based LAMP

P. falciparum

5 p/µL

61%

98%

45 min

[81]

P. vivax

81%

98%

P. pan

> 80%

> 98%

Continuous flow PCR

P. falciparum

2 p/µL

97.40%

93.80%

n/a

[86]

< 1 p/µL

n/a

n/a

2.5 h

[87]

Cell deformation mechanism

Inertial focusing

P. falciparum

2–10 p/µL

n/a

n/a

400 µL/min

[88]

Inertial microfluidics

P. falciparum iRBCs

2 cells/min

n/a

[89]

Non-inertial lift effect

P. falciparum ring stage iRBCs

Enrichment factor of 4.3

n/a

[90]

Throughput 12,000 cells/h

Electrical detection

Electrical conductivity of iRBCs is significantly higher than healthy RBCs

P. falciparum ring stage

n/a

n/a

[91]

Optofluidic-flow analyser that can measure the optical absorption of RBCs in P. falciparum infected blood sample

P. falciparum

1712 RBCs/s

n/a

3 min

[92]

2.96% parasite density

Naked-eye screening of in-meso detection of hemozoin crystallites based on birefringence

Hemozoin crystals produced by P. falciparum

n/a

~ 12 min

[58]

Optical detection

Visual detection of colored assay spot on a disposable microfluidic card based on a flow-through membrane immunoassay

Malaria PfHRP2

10–20 ng/mL

n/a

1–5 min

[79]

Paper-based catridge containing detection areas for both thin and thick smears

P. falciparum

100 p/µL

n/a

30 min

[93]

Magnetic detection

Cell enrichment microfluidics combined with magnetic relaxometry detection

P. falciparum ring stage parasites

5% parasite density

n/a

15 min

[54]

Detection of hemozoin in iRBCs by magnetic resonance relaxometry

Hemozoin in iRBCs in P. falciparum infections

< 10 p/µL

n/a

Few mins

[94]