An electrokinetic PCR chip with in situ electrochemical amplicon detection for comprehensive microbiological analysis of hospital acquired infections

This study reports an electrokinetic polymerase chain reaction (EK-PCR) chip that combines long-range electrothermal fluid motion and Joule heating induced temperature gradient to implement PCR-based DNA amplification. On-chip electrochemical sensing is also incorporated in the EK-PCR chamber for detecting the amplicon quantitatively. We demonstrate the EK-PCR chip for rapid antibiotic resistance gene detection and multiplex pathogen identification. The EK-PCR process requires only simply electronic interface, is capable of multiplexing, and can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. These unique properties of EK-PCR render its potential use in rapid diagnosis of hospital-acquired infections.