Sepsis is a medical emergency that is notoriously hard for doctors to spot early. But delayed treatment can lead to lifethreatening consequences for patients – the mortality rate for the disease rises by nearly 8% for every hour it goes untreated. New technologies are helping to close that critical gap. In January 2023, the US FDA cleared Cytovale’s IntelliSep test, a tool that assesses a patient’s risk of sepsis in under ten minutes using a small blood sample and was rolled out in August that year. The device works by interrogating subtle biomechanical changes in white blood cells that occur early in the body’s immune response to help doctors predict the chances of sepsis with greater speed and accuracy than before. The green light for Cytovale’s device reflects a wider trend in the future of diagnostics: moving towards diagnostics that deliver fast, reliable results from small fluid samples. Such a shift can enable more real-time clinical decisions, often at the point of care, and is reshaping design priorities for medical device manufacturers. As shown by the widespread use of lateral flow tests during the Covid-19 pandemic, point-of-care (POC) tests (performed at the bedside or in clinics rather than central labs) can reduce pressure on healthcare systems and improve access to early testing, increasing the chances of better patient outcomes. But the trend towards more portable medical devices creates design challenges, especially given such tools often use tiny amounts of fluid and need to deliver lab-grade accuracy without highly trained technicians or tightly controlled environments.
50%
In vitro diagnostics was the largest segment type by industry last year, accounting for roughly half the share of the microfluidic devices market.
That’s where microfluidics comes in. These systems, which manipulate minuscule volumes of liquid through hair-thin channels, are being increasingly employed in a new wave of diagnostic tools and therapeutic platforms. The global microfluidics market is projected to more than double, from $22.78bn in 2024 to $54.61bn by 2032 according to Research and Markets’ ‘Microfluidic Devices Market – Global Forecast (2025–2032)’, as demand grows for compact, integrated medical technologies. Industry leaders are actively expanding in this space.
47%
Europe and Asia- Pacific collectively made up nearly half the market share for microfluidics in 2024.
Research and Markets
In July 2024, Illumina acquired Fluent BioSciences to enhance its ability for single-cell analysis. And in January 2024, Standard BioTools completed its merger with SomaLogic, creating a provider of differentiated multiomics tools for research. Such moves reflect a broader strategy of OEMs focusing on the development of advanced microfluidic devices by optimising speed and sensitivity while minimising size and cost.
Pressure points
At the centre of the microfluidics boom is a critical component: the micropump. Such mechanisms allow the accurate motion of fluids through a medical device’s reservoirs.
“Globally, the market for microfluidic pumps is gaining significant importance due to growing R&D investment in life sciences, pharmaceuticals and increasing point of care testing demand,” notes forecasting firm Research and Markets. Micropumps could enable precise fluid control in diverse medical applications, from cancer diagnostics to wearable therapeutics.
Understanding the capabilities of microfluidic pumps is fundamental if OEMs are to develop smaller, more accurate diagnostic tools, particularly for use in resource-poor settings, says Associate Professor Xiaoyun Ding, a medical engineer at the University of Colorado Boulder in the US. His research group explores cutting-edge micro and nano systems for cell-based biomedical applications, including fluid manipulation.
“Point-of-care means you take care of each patient individually with personalised standards instead of general standards,” explains Ding. “In such situations, precision and reliability become increasingly important.”
And with volumes so small in microfluidic devices, even slight errors can dramatically alter results. A 5% deviation in a 10mm sample might be acceptable for certain applications, but the same margin in a 10mL sample could mean the difference between detecting a disease and missing it entirely, says Ding. Traditional pumping systems, designed for bulk fluid handling, often can’t deliver the precision required for point-of-care devices. Microfluidic pumps address this fundamental challenge. “The biggest advantage is handling small -volume samples,” notes Ding. “Current popular pumps used in medical settings typically handle large volumes of samples, which are not very good for point-of-care applications.”
Beyond accuracy, microfluidic pumps open new possibilities for accessibility. They enable medical testing in environments where traditional laboratory infrastructure is unavailable, from rural clinics to patient homes. Devices that incorporate microfluidic pumps might require operation with just a finger-prick blood sample, eliminating the need for skilled phlebotomists. And because the pumps can be integrated with sensors, analysers and digital readouts on a single chip, the result is a compact, all-in-one system that supports rapid, low-hassle testing.
Types and trade-offs
Ding explains that microfluidic pumping methods can generally be classified into two subsets: active and passive pumping. Each comes with strengths and limitations, depending on the intended application.
Active pumping requires an external power source to induce continuous flow by generating pressure or relying on an electric, magnetic or acoustic field. Active pumping allows for precise, programmable control but generally results in larger, more complex devices. Within the active category, there are several types of pumps OEMs can choose from, each tailored to different clinical needs. Pneumatic pumps offer smooth, controllable flow and are widely used in diagnostic cartridges to automate complex assays. Electro-osmotic pumps move fluid using electric fields, and without moving parts, which makes them advantageous for ultra-precise lab-on-a-chip applications. Piezoelectric pumps, often found in wearable and implantable systems, use tiny actuators to deliver medication accurately. Passive pumps, by contrast, rely on natural forces like gravity or capillary action. These systems are inexpensive, simple to use and ideal for disposable tests such as the lateral flow assays familiar from Covid-19 testing. But they offer less control over flow rates and are generally unsuitable for more complex diagnostics. Selecting the right pump is only part of the equation. Integration is just as critical, says Ding. To fully realise the potential of lab-on-a-chip systems, engineers must harmonise pumping, sensing and analysis functions without sacrificing reliability or adding bulk. Maintaining performance over time, especially in field conditions, is another key design challenge, Ding points out.
Cell sorting
One of the most promising applications of microfluidic pumps is in cell sorting and separation – a foundational step in many diagnostics. The IntelliSep test is one example, but Ding believes that microfluidic cell sorting’s real potential lies ahead. His research looks at bringing this form of sophisticated analysis to point-of-care settings. “Most cell sorting steps are done in lab-based settings,” he points out. “If we can solve this problem of separating different cell types, it will make it possible to achieve diagnosis at home.”
The implications could be particularly significant for cancer diagnostics, Ding believes. Circulating tumour cells can provide valuable information about the disease’s progression and spread but detecting them requires precise fluid handling and separation techniques. Microfluidic pumps, though, could potentially enable the development of portable devices capable of performing these sophisticated analyses outside of traditional laboratory settings.
$54.61bn
The global microfluidics market is projected to more than double, from $22.78bn in 2024 to over $50bn by 2032.
Research and Markets
Right now, syringe pumps are most commonly used in lab-based cell sorting, Ding explains. That’s because they are easy to use and accessible, but they have limitations: fluid volume is limited by syringe barrel size, and the method may cause fluctuations in fluid flow. The laminar flow produced by the syringe may not adequately mix samples. Peristaltic pumps could achieve a greater range of flow rates, but they can cause pulsing that interferes with precise sorting. Trying to eliminate this issue wastes space inside the chip. Passive pumps don’t work well for heavier materials like cells. While electro-osmotic flow has potential for fully chipbased systems but can damage sensitive cells, limiting its usefulness in live-cell applications.
Pumped for the future
While current research largely centres on generalpurpose microfluidic pumps, Ding anticipates a shift towards more application-specific systems. Some specialised designs are beginning to emerge, he says, but most work to date has focused on versatile, all-purpose pumps rather than those engineered for complex tasks like cell sorting. Beyond diagnostics, microfluidic pumps also offer exciting possibilities in therapeutics, such as diabetes management, Ding says. Because the disease requires precise, timed delivery of insulin based on blood glucose levels, it’s an ideal candidate for microfluidic-enabled solutions.
“You can put a small chip, even a very flexible, wearable one, on the skin, and this can deliver or release insulin into the body on demand,” Ding explains. The technology could operate under patient control through smartphone apps or buttons, or even more intelligently by automatically detecting blood glucose levels and adjusting insulin delivery accordingly.
In the future, micro-pumps may also enable delivery of multiple drugs in precise combinations. This could be especially helpful for patients taking combination therapies, or for improving access in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. Microfluidic pumps could reshape how, where and when care happens in the future and help respond to the fine control needed for today’s diagnostic complexity. Combining precision engineering and clinical insight, micropumps are not just moving fluids, but moving diagnostics and treatments out of laboratories and hospitals into people’s hands.
