Bordetella pertussis is an aerobic Gram-negative bacterium that demonstrates a rapid growth rate by its ability to adhere to the epithelial surfaces of the trachea and bronchi in the human respiratory system. It is the causative agent of pertussis, which is mainly characterized by severe coughing attacks and choking-like breaths, which can be lethal for infants and young children [1]. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection that affects all age groups, from infants to the elderly. Although it is commonly seen among infants and children, there has been a noticeable rise in incidence among adults and adolescents, leading to questions about the current vaccination schedule, especially for adults. It has also prompted the exploration of more efficient preventive measures, such as next-generation pertussis vaccines. The prevention of the disease can be achieved through vaccination with either whole-cell pertussis (DTwP) or acellular pertussis vaccines (DTaP), which are available only for use in infants and children under 7 years of age. For adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and children 7 years of age and older, a booster dose (Tdap) is also available [2]. Among pediatric vaccines, DTaP vaccine is more commonly used worldwide since the DTwP vaccine is too reactogenic. The use of DTaP vaccines is not without drawbacks, as there is often a resurgence of pertussis following the switch from DTwP to DTaP vaccines possibly leading to waning of immunity [3]. Despite routine vaccination for more than five decades, pertussis continues to be a significant respiratory illness that affects a wide range of age groups, from infants to adults. This emphasizes the criticality of an accurate diagnosis of pertussis in order to administer appropriate treatment and avoid further transmission of the disease.

The diagnosis of pertussis mainly relies on clinical manifestations and laboratory diagnostic methods, including culture, serology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [4]. Despite their widespread use, these approaches have their own limitations, such as long incubation period of cultures, low sensitivity of serological tests, and need for experts for PCR-based studies [5]. Thus, there have been endeavors to enhance existing diagnostic tools and develop innovative methods in recent years. The use of microfluidic techniques in biotechnology for the detection of infectious diseases has emerged as a noteworthy and encouraging approach. This has resulted in the development of point-of-care testing (POCT), which enables rapid detection at site or next to the patient with the advantages of being simple, portable, automatic, and cost-effective [6]. With the outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), studies have been accelerated to implement POCT for the diagnosis of various diseases. Although there is limited availability of mature products for infectious diseases in the present market [7], the advancements in microfluidics, functional materials, and biosensing technologies would stimulate relevant researchers to seize the opportunities to make sample-to-result devices with great sensitivity and specificity.

This review centers on the discussion of existing pertussis diagnostic technologies, with a particular emphasis on the advancements made in the field of microfluidic POCT-based diagnosis of pertussis.