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| | Research and Technology - Forensic Science Communications - October 2004 |
 | | A micro-total analysis system, also known as a lab-on-a-chip, is a small (centimeter-sized) chip that contains micron-sized channels for fluid transport and other design elements, such as pumps, valves, and reactors that miniaturize, integrate, and automate complex, multistep chemical and biological processes (Effenhauser and Mana 1994; Freemantle 1999; Lab-on-a-chip 2002; Manz et al. |
 | | Compared to conventional laboratory instrumentation, micro-total analysis systems are virtually hands-free, consume extremely small volumes of samples and reagents, provide short sample-to-answer times, and are inexpensive and small. |
 | | The second approach for a STR-typing micro-total analysis system is a modular system composed of three microchips—a cell separation/DNA extraction chip, a multiplexed PCR chip, and a multichannel electrophoresis chip. |
| www.fbi.gov /hq/lab/fsc/backissu/oct2004/research/2004_10_research04.htm (2686 words) |
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