Controlling Droplet Marangoni Flows to Improve Microscopy-Based TB Diagnosis.

ABSTRACT: In developing countries, the most common diagnostic method for tuberculosis (TB) is microscopic examination sputum smears. Current assessment requires time-intensive inspection across the microscope slide area, and this contributes to its poor diagnostic sensitivity of ≈50%. Spatially concentrating TB bacteria in a smaller area is one potential approach to improve visual detection and potentially increase sensitivity. We hypothesized that a combination of magnetic concentration and induced droplet Marangoni flow would spatially concentrate Mycobacterium tuberculosis on the slide surface by preferential deposition of beads and TB-bead complexes in the center of an evaporating droplet. To this end, slide substrate and droplet solvent thermal conductivities and solvent surface tension,

SUBMITTER: Pearlman SI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8618690 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature