Researchers develop microfluidic analyser for affordable diagnostics

A research team at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has unveiled a compact flow cytometry system designed to lower costs and expand access to precision medicine.

Conventional flow cytometers, the gold standard for diagnosing blood cancers and other conditions, can cost several million Hong Kong dollars. HKBU’s new ‘Microfluidic Flow Cytomolecular Analyser’ uses a single-laser, chip-based approach to capture dozens of cellular and molecular parameters in one run. The platform delivers high-throughput analysis of cells, proteins and nucleic acids, while reducing costs to a fraction of current systems.

Artificial intelligence tools built into the analyser allow rapid processing of tens of thousands of datapoints, opening the way for faster clinical decision-making. The project has secured funding through Hong Kong’s RAISe+ scheme to support commercialisation.

Professor Lei Bo, who leads the initiative, said the analyser integrates expertise from optics, microfluidics, bioinformatics, and software engineering. “By combining these technologies in a portable, user-friendly platform, we can make advanced diagnostics more affordable and accelerate the adoption of precision medicine,” he explained.

HKBU is advancing several diagnostic innovations in parallel, including multiplex systems for respiratory pathogens, cell-based biosensors for drug resistance, and optical devices for food and herbal medicine testing. Together, these projects signal a strong pipeline of technologies aimed at making advanced diagnostics more accessible.

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