Passive chip-based droplet sorting

A method of passive sorting of microdroplets of uniform size, comprising the steps of:

• providing a main flow channel,
• directing a sample material and reagents into said main flow channel,
• directing a carrier fluid into said main flow channel thereby providing a flow stream of microdroplets in said main flow channel wherein said microdroplets have substantially the same diameter and wherein said droplets include first microdroplets containing said sample material and second microdroplets that do not contain said sample material,
• amplifying said microdroplets in said flow stream of microdroplets resulting in said flow stream of microdroplets having been amplified so that it includes said first microdroplets containing said sample material having a first degree of stiffness and said second microdroplets that do not contain said sample material having a second degree of stiffness wherein said second degree of stiffness is less than said first degree of stiffness,
• providing a second flow channel connected to said main flow channel for said second microdroplets that do not contain said sample material having a second degree of stiffness, and
• providing a separator for separating said second microdroplets that do not contain said sample material having a second degree of stiffness from said first microdroplets containing said sample material having a first degree of stiffness and directing said second microdroplets that do not contain said sample material having a second degree of stiffness into said second flow channel.