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Pure Appl. Chem., 2006, Vol. 78, No. 3, pp. 677-684

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200678030677

CHEMISTRY AND HUMAN HEALTH DIVISION

Guidelines for terminology for microtechnology in clinical laboratories (IUPAC Technical Report)

Peter Wilding1*, Thomas Joos2, Larry J. Kricka1 and Leming Shi3

1 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
2 NMI Naturwissenschaftliches und Medizinisches Institut an der Universitat Tubingen, Angewandte F & E, Markwiesenstrasse 55, D-72770 Reutlingen, Germany
3 National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, HFT-20, Building 15, 3900 NCTR Road, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA

Abstract: There is no formal terminology used to describe the scope and use of microtechnology in the clinical laboratory. For many laboratory scientists, the word "microchip" is synonymous with high-density microarrays used primarily for investigating gene expression. The document proposes a system of "categories" and "descriptors" that facilitates the classification of a device in a way that communicates details of its function and analytical role, and describes the analytical principle involved and the methods and materials used for its manufacture. Adoption of this system would enable scientists to employ four descriptors that clearly delineate the function, analytical role, and chemical or physical principle involved in the device. Examples of existing commercial devices are given to illustrate the utility of the system.

Errata to this article were published in:
Pure Appl. Chem., 2006, Vol. 78, No. 5, pp. 1091