--- title: Biomarkers --- [![functionalfluidics\_logo](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/functionalfluidics_logo.jpg?width=132&name=functionalfluidics_logo.jpg)](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/) - [About Us](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/about-us) - [Services](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/services) - [Assays](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays-2) - [Flow Adhesion](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays/flow-adhesion) - [Mechanical Fragility](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays/mechanical-fragility) - [Dynamic Sickling Assay](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays-dynamicsicklingassay) - [Oxygenscan](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays/lorrca-oxygenscan) - [Osmoscan](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays-2/flow-adhesion-reverse-0) - [Contract Research](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/contractresearch) - [Nigeria Research Center](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/functional_fluidics_nigeria) - [RBC Test Menu](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hubfs/Test%20Menu%20(2).pdf) - Scientific Resources - [Peer Reviewed Publications](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/scientificresources/peerreviewed) - [Abstracts](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/scientificresources/abstracts) - [ELIPSIS](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/scientificresources/elipsis) - [News](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/news-and-presentations) # Our Assays ### Functional Fluidics’ assays are unique diagnostic platforms that assess the health of red blood cells.   ## Red Blood Cell Health Assays Functional Fluidics testing capabilities include proprietary assays that assess the key properties underpinning red blood cell function and survival. These assays assess the health of red blood cells by replicating the environment that they experience in our bodies and providing that information to doctors and scientists allowing them to make better decisions about drug development and patient care. ## Flow Adhesion Assay   Cell adhesion is a complex mechanism involved in a variety of processes including cell migration and invasion, wound healing, tissue remodeling, and micro-vascular occlusion.   Our Flow Adhesion Assays capture the adhesive properties of an individual’s blood cells during conditions that simulate physiologic blood flow.                                                                                                                                  [LEARN MORE](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays/flow-adhesion) ![img02-1](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/img02-1.png?width=490&name=img02-1.png)   ![03-3](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/03-3.png?width=490&name=03-3.png)   Dynamic Sickling Assay DSA uses enzymatically induced hypoxia in a microfluidic environment to allow comprehensive analysis of RBC morphologic sickling dynamics in a wide range of deoxygenation rates and conditions. Comparing the sickling profile observed in a patient before treatment and after, the Morphological Point of Sickling (mPoS), here defined as the delay between the time of hypoxia initiation and the time of 5% increase in the number of sickled cells, can be measured for each patient, evaluating the patient-to-patient variability. [LEARN MORE](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays-dynamicsicklingassay) ![1180807912411244.RoClR4ZMZHqCZURnNzpL\_height640](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/03-3.png?width=490&name=03-3.png) Mechanical Fragility Assay   Our Mechanical Fragility Assay determines the stability of the intact red blood cell membrane, which indicates the health and ability to survive hemolytic mechanical stress which may predict survival.   [Learn More](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays/mechanical-fragility) ![002](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/002.png?width=490&name=002.png)   ![003-2](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/003-2.png?width=490&name=003-2.png)   Standard Hematological Assays Functional Fluidics offers additional traditional blood rheology assays  that are used to determine the effect of modifying therapies on red blood cell health. These include Oxygenscan and Osmoscan.  [RBC HEALTH TEST MENU](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hubfs/Test%20Menu%20(2).pdf)   ![](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/04-1.png?width=490&name=04-1.png)       ## Publications FLOW ADHESION **Evaluation of Longitudinal Pain Study in Sickle Cell Disease (ELIPSIS) by Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes, Actigraphy, and Biomarkers** This non interventional, longitudinal, 6-month study aimed to develop tools to identify VOCs in SCD patients with or without health care utilization. [Read More](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hubfs/bloodbld2020006020.pdf) MECHANICAL FRAGILITY **Red Blood Cell Mechanical Fragility as Potential Metric for Assessing Blood Damage Caused by Implantable Durable Ventricular Assist Devices: Comparison of Two Types of Centrifugal Flow Left Ventricular Assist Devices.** Implantable Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs) have become a treatment of choice for patients with end-stage heart failure or cardiogenic shock, significantly increasing both survival rates and the quality of life of patients. [Read More](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1058981319301833?via%3Dihub) MECHANICAL FRAGILITY **Individual Variability in Response to a Single Sickling Event for Normal, Sickle Cell, and Sickle Trait Erythrocytes** Hemoglobin S (Hb-S) polymerization is the primary event in sickle cell disease causing irreversible damage to red blood cell (RBC) membranes over repeated polymerization cycles. [Read More](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27728824/) FLOW ADHESION **Sevuparin blocks sickle blood cell adhesion and sickleleucocyte rolling on immobilized L-selectin in a dose dependent manner** Adhesion of sickle red blood cells (SSRBC) to the vascular endothelium may initiate and propagate vascular obstruction in sickle cell disease (SCD) [Read More](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hubfs/White_et_al-2018-British_Journal_of_Haematology.pdf) MECHANICAL FRAGILITY **Impact of Environment on Red Blood Cell ability to Withstand Mechanical Stress.** Susceptibility of red blood cells (RBC) to hemolysis under mechanical stress is represented by RBC mechanical fragility (MF), with different types or intensities of stress potentially emphasizing different perturbations of RBC membranes [Read More](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26890109/) MECHANICAL FRAGILITY **An Approach to Measuring RBC Haemolysis and Profiling RBC Mechanical Fragility** Red blood cells (RBC) can be damaged by medical products, from storage or from disease. Haemolysis (cell rupture and haemoglobin release) is often a key indicator, with mechanical fragility (MF) offering the potential to assess sub-haemolytic damage as well [Read More](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27004768/) FLOW ADHESION **Low Molecular Weight Heparin Inhibits Sickle Erythrocyte Adhesion to VCAM-1 through VLA-4 Blockade in a Standardized Microfluidic Flow Adhesion Assay** The vaso-occlusive events in sickle cell disease (SCD) begin in early childhood, warranting the need for more preventative and therapeutic interventions for those affected [Read More](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hubfs/Lancelot_et_al-2016-British_Journal_of_Haematology.pdf) MECHANICAL FRAGILITY **Impact of the Oscillating Bead Size and Shape on Induced Mechanical Stress on Red Blood Cells and Associated Hemolysis in Bead Milling** While in circulation, red blood cells (RBC) need to elastically undergo large deformations without lysing, an ability that may be compromised by cell membrane damage. [Read More](https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijbrd/international-journal-of-blood-research-and-disorders-ijbrd-6-041.pdf?jid=ijbrd) ### Contact Us   # **Our Location** 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 447, Detroit, MI 48202 United States Email: [info@functionalfluidics.com](mailto:info@functionalfluidics.com) Phone:313-315-2555 ### Subscribe to Our Newsletter - [Services](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/services) - [Assays](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/assays-2) - [RBC Test Menu](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/hubfs/Test%20Menu%20(2).pdf) - [Publications](https://www.functionalfluidics.com/publications/tag/publications) © Copyright Functional Fluidics 2016.