Integrated microfluidic chip for measuring T helper cells

This paper reports a new microfluidic chip capable of measuring and counting CD3/CD4 T helper cells. A T-cell count was essential for diagnosis of immunodeficiency and lymphocytic diseases. To achieve the measurement and counting of T helper cells, a new microfluidic device comprising a micro incubation and a micro flow cytometer module was presented in this study for sample pretreatment, measuring, and counting. First, the CD3/CD4 T helper cells and anti-human CD3/CD4 antibodies conjugated fluorescent proteins were co-incubated in the micro incubation. When the T helper cells flew through the micro flow cytometer, the intensity of fluorescent signals was then detected. The T helper cells would be counted unless both signals of anti-human CD3 and CD4 antibodies were induced at the same time. Thus, the specificity of T helper cells was measured to be 0.96. The developed microfluidic chip may provide a promising tool for fast monitoring of immunodeficiency and lymphocytic diseases.