Design of an optofluidic sensor for rapid detection of hemolysis

Abstract

Blood tests are a vital source of information for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Blood sample contamination due to hemolysis (the rupturing of red blood cells) is a significant problem that can result in incorrect diagnoses, delayed treatment, and inappropriate prescriptions. Therefore, a simple, rapid test is needed to detect the occurrence of hemolysis. Here we propose a new miniature spectroscopic device, integrated onto an optical fiber platform, which can quickly and reliably determine the amount of free hemoglobin in a small droplet of blood plasma. Optimal design parameters for the device were first calculated theoretically, and then the device was fabricated and tested. Experimental tests demonstrated that the device can quickly measure free plasma hemoglobin over a wide range of concentration (0–500 mg/dL) and with a low detection limit (<4 mg/dL), sufficient to detect both low- and high-grade hemolysis in a droplet of blood plasma. This device can therefore be useful for rapid quality control in blood-testing laboratories, hospitals, and dialysis settings.