Imagine a huge laboratory filled with people and equipment shrinking to fit on a small chip — the size of a dime. Scientists on Earth use labs on chips for medical tests and other research. Marshall Center scientists are customizing these chips for use in space.

In the future, how will astronauts be able to monitor levels of microorganisms in their spacecraft, to detect the presence of harmful chemicals, or to determine what is causing them to feel sick? To address these questions, scientists at Marshall Space Flight Center have harnessed a particularly useful technology – the ability to perform multiple biochemical tests on a single microchip. “Lab-on-a-chip” technology has been used by researchers on Earth for many years, but Marshall scientists and collaborators from across the country have begun adapting it for the unique challenges of spaceflight. The LOCAD-Portable Test System (PTS) is their first step toward meeting the need for a rugged, portable, rapid-result test system that can provide accurate, reproducible results without assistance from a laboratory on Earth.