Microfluidic test module with low-volume hybridization chambers for electrochemiluminescent detection of target nucleic acid sequences in a fluid

A microfluidic test module for detecting target nucleic acid sequences in a fluid, the test module comprising:

• an outer casing configured for hand-held portability, the outer casing having an inlet for receiving the fluid containing the target nucleic acid sequences;
• an array of hybridization chambers mounted in the casing, the hybridization chambers containing electrochemiluminescent (ECL) probes for detecting the target nucleic acid sequences, each of the ECL probes having an ECL luminophore for emitting photons when in an excited state and a functional moiety for quenching photon emission from the ECL luminophore by resonant energy transfer, and electrodes for receiving an electrical pulse to excite the ECL luminophores;
• and
• a plurality of calibration sources each configured to provide a calibration emission, the calibration sources being distributed throughout the array of hybridization chambers such that each of the calibration sources are surrounded by a three-by-three square of the hybridization chambers;
• wherein,
• the hybridization chambers each have a volume less than 900,000 cubic microns.