Mini-lab performs multiple genetic tests quickly and cheaply

The “Domino,” developed by a University of Alberta research team, has the capability to perform the same genetic tests as most fully equipped laboratories in a fraction of the time, but it’s the size of a toaster. At its core is a small plastic chip that can detect whether a patient is resistant to cancer drugs or has diseases like malaria. “We’re basically replacing millions of dollars of equipment that would be in a conventional, consolidated lab with something that costs pennies to produce and is field portable so you can take it where needed,” Jason Acker, an associate professor of laboratory medicine and pathology, said. The Domino utilizes polymerase chain reaction technology to amplify and detect targeted sequences of DNA. The chip contains 20 gel posts capable of identifying sequences of DNA with a single drop of blood. One chip can perform multiple tests at a time.