Microfluidic reporter cell assay methods and kits thereof

A method of assaying at least one biological cell for a biological activity in a microfluidic device comprising:

• an enclosure having an inner lower surface and an inner upper surface spaced apart defining a chamber, comprising a flow region configured to contain a flow of a first fluidic medium, and at least one incubation chamber, each of which is disposed upon the inner lower surface,
• wherein the at least one incubation chamber is enclosed by walls extending from the inner lower surface to the inner upper surface of the chamber and has a single lateral opening to the flow region, and
• wherein the single lateral opening between the flow region and the connection region is configured to facilitate substantially only diffusion between the first fluidic medium and the second fluidic medium in the isolation region when the first fluidic medium is flowing through the flow region, the method comprising:
• introducing the at least one biological cell into the at least one incubation chamber;
• introducing at least one reporter cell into the at least one incubation chamber, wherein the at least one reporter cell is configured to produce a first detectable signal when the at least one biological cell comprises the biological activity;
• and
• analyzing the at least one reporter cell for an activity stimulated by the presence of a biological activity of the at least one biological cell.