It is traditionally difficult to incorporate two classes of diagnostic tests into a single platform. In this work, we demonstrate a microfluidic-based smartphone dongle that simultaneously measures concentration of hemoglobin and detects HIV antibodies. Specifically, we demonstrate how a previously published immunoassay device, which measured optical density of silver precipitation on gold colloids, can be expanded to quantitatively measure hemoglobin concentration via a colorimetric assay. By lysing whole blood components with CHAPS detergent, we achieved highly reproducible measurement of hemoglobin concentration with the device. We tested this dual test on 38 patient samples from Columbia University Medical Center. Compared with the Hemocue Hb 201+ analyzer, hemoglobin concentrations from our device were accurate within 1.2 g dL(-1), while the HIV immunoassay (in the presence of CHAPS detergent) showed 95% sensitivity and 95% specificity, comparable to our previous studies. This work demonstrates the feasibility of integrating two classes of diagnostic tests (a colorimetric-based quantitative measurement and an immunoassay based on silver precipitation on gold colloids) into a low-cost, fast, and low-power dongle that works with smartphones, and creates a novel dual panel with clinical utility for antenatal-care settings.

Dear Readers, 2014 proved to be an instrumental year for the growth and total revitalization of the Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal. Our associate editors, CEO and myself looked forward to recruiting a new editorial board made up of underclassmen and building strong relationships with these editors through weekly workshops and event planning meetings. I am especially proud of our board’s commitment to building strong relationships; what was once a journal that lacked mentorship opportunities has now blossomed into a tight-knit community of aspiring researchers who value the power of quality writing. A highlight of our events this past year was our Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium, which was held on April 20th, 2014. 22 research posters were presented by students from colleges across the Northeast Region. It was delightful to feel the passion from each of these students as they talked about their research, and we look forward to hosting the symposium again on April 26th, as we have expanded the event to include 30 posters. Looking at this year’s journal, I am also proud to see the various authors and research that we have been blessed to exhibit. For the first time, our editors have been given the opportunity to publish in the journal through our editorials section. We are thrilled to provide these fresh perspectives on scientific research to our audience and hope to continue this practice in future journals. In addition, the multi-page papers in this journal showcase the breadth of scientific research that our organization promotes. I sincerely hope that you enjoy the articles. All in all, the Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal has made major progress over the past year. “Stability leads to legitimacy” has been our mantra this academic year, and our e-board has provided the stability needed to give meaningful experiences for our editorial board and a quality publication for our readers. Thank you for your continued support. It has been an honor to serve as the Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal for this past year. – Ritish Patnaik