Tianjin Mnchip Technologies Ushers in the 'PC Era' of Clinical Biochemical Analysis with Portable Microfluidic Analyzer

“You no longer need to queue up at large or medium-sized hospitals for blood biochemical analysis. Professional, medical-grade test results can now be obtained just as reliably at clinics near your neighborhood, community health service stations, pharmacies, and even in the comfort of your own home, safeguarding your health. Clinical biochemical analysis is transitioning from the era of mainframe instruments to the PC era,” said Wang Zhanhui, co-founder of Tianjin Micro-Nano Core Technology Co., Ltd., with visible excitement, as he introduced their portable biochemical analyzer based on microfluidic chip technology at the inaugural public lecture of the Xingdong Xiangyi Venture Capital Camp.

Microfluidic Biochemistry Analyzer by Micro-Nano Core Display

“Traditionally, clinical biochemical analysis required drawing a large volume of blood, with test results obtained by professional laboratory personnel using bulky equipment available only in large and medium-sized hospitals. Now, only 3–4 drops of blood are needed. Any non-specialist can easily and conveniently obtain precise test results comparable to those from professional laboratories in large and medium-sized hospitals within ten minutes, using this portable device that weighs just two kilograms. When the product was first launched, experts in the field of clinical laboratory medicine were skeptical. However, after conducting rigorous comparative clinical trials themselves, their skepticism turned to astonishment at the finding that such a compact device could deliver results as accurate as those from large, professional biochemical analyzers costing millions. ‘In addition, one of our special clients is the China Astronaut Research and Training Center. Following stringent testing and evaluation, the Center decided to equip China’s first space station in 2018 with our microfluidic biochemical analyzer to monitor the health of astronauts during long-duration orbital missions,’ Wang Zhanhui continued.”

Following endorsement by clinical laboratory experts, the installed base of Tianjin Micro-Nano Core’s microfluidic biochemical analyzers has rapidly expanded across China. Currently, these devices are deployed in all provinces and autonomous regions nationwide, extending beyond first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen to remote areas including Karamay in Xinjiang, Shigatse in Tibet, and Mohe in Northeast China. The cumulative installations have reached over 1,000 medical institutions at various levels. While nearly 100 units are equipped in the laboratory and clinical departments of large tertiary hospitals, the majority are installed in small and medium-sized hospitals and primary healthcare facilities. This deployment has enabled primary healthcare institutions, previously unable to afford large-scale biochemical analysis equipment, to perform clinical biochemical testing, significantly enhancing their quality of medical services. In addition to domestic installations, the products are exported to Russia, South Korea, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, and other European Union countries. With the successful implementation of application demonstrations in primary healthcare settings, recent installation numbers have surged rapidly. Within the next year, tens of thousands of units are projected to be installed in primary healthcare institutions nationwide, achieving a win-win outcome in both economic and social benefits.

When discussing the theme of the inaugural Star Medical Venture Capital Camp—mobile health—with reporters, Dr. Wang Zhanhui expressed strong optimism about its development prospects. He noted that medical resources in China are currently distributed extremely unevenly. While there are nearly one million medical institutions of all levels across the country, only tens of thousands are hospitals. The remaining more than 900,000 primary care institutions largely lack the capacity to provide effective medical services due to a shortage of appropriate medical equipment and highly skilled physicians. It is unrealistic to rely solely on these tens of thousands of large and medium-sized hospitals concentrated in major cities to address the healthcare needs of China’s billion-plus population; doing so makes it impossible to resolve the longstanding issues of “difficulty and high cost in accessing medical care.” There is an urgent need in China to develop a range of professional medical devices suitable for use in primary care settings, enabling patients to receive diagnostic services locally that are comparable to those offered in large and medium-sized hospitals. By integrating these capabilities with mobile internet technologies, the rapidly growing online mobile health sector, and the resources of physicians practicing at multiple sites, it may be possible to alleviate, to some extent, the challenges of difficult and expensive access to medical care.

Specifically, Micro-Nano Core’s microfluidic biochemical analyzer was designed from the outset with integration into mobile healthcare in mind, aiming to serve as an effective and convenient tool for implementing online mobile medical services. To this end, it incorporates advanced wireless communication capabilities such as 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. The device automatically connects to cloud servers upon startup, enabling fast and convenient transmission of all test data via the cloud. After patients complete blood tests using the device, the results can be transmitted directly to online physicians for reference in making diagnoses or guiding patient treatment. Numerous successful implementation cases already exist in this area, and Micro-Nano Core is currently engaging with several online mobile healthcare companies to further explore collaborative opportunities. Dr. Wang Zhanhui believes that this seamlessly integrated online-offline mobile healthcare model holds broad application prospects in the medical field, particularly in chronic disease management within an increasingly aging society.

When discussing future developments, Dr. Wang Zhanhui stated that with the rapid advancement of testing technologies, basic clinical laboratory tests should become available for home use within a short period. Home blood glucose monitoring has already been realized, and most basic metabolic biochemistry panels—such as liver function, renal function, and lipid profiles—will soon follow suit. Furthermore, immunoassay and molecular diagnostic tests will also enter the household setting. Dr. Wang’s vision is for every household to be equipped with simple, portable testing devices. When needed, individuals can purchase the corresponding reagents and consumables from nearby pharmacies or supermarkets, perform the tests at home, and upload the data to communicate with their online physicians. This approach enables continuous health management anytime and anywhere, sparing patients the hardship of navigating large hospitals for minor illnesses or chronic disease recovery.

Tianjin Micro-Nano Chip Technology Co., Ltd. (www.mnchip.com) is a high-tech medical device company incubated from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The company is dedicated to research on microfluidic chip technology and specializes in the R&D, manufacturing, and sales of next-generation integrated, miniaturized, and portable clinical diagnostic equipment based on this technology. Wang Zhanhui and his colleague Zhang Kaining founded Micro-Nano Chip after recognizing the urgent need for suitable medical equipment in primary healthcare institutions during their tenure at CAS. Shortly after its establishment, the company received investment from Legend Star, becoming the first project invested in by Legend Star since its inception. Following the product’s market launch, Premier Li Keqiang inspected this microfluidic biochemical analyzer on two separate occasions, expressing his hope for its widespread adoption in primary healthcare institutions.

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