At the University of Louisville in Kentucky, an experimental approach is being researched on a method that could pave the way to lab-on-a-chip/electrochemical (LOC-EC) instruments that could be useful for development of 'fully miniaturized instrument systems.' The goal of the project is the development of a self-contained LOC-EC system that is totally portable an has power consumption low enough for remote monitoring under battery power. The instrument under development has three components: microfabricated instrument chip, battery-powered CE and EC electronics, and a laptop with LabVIEW software installed. A top glass substrate has channels for sample loading and separation. A bottom plate holds metallic CE and EC electrodes. High voltages are applied to CE electrodes to control bulk flow of sample and buffer solution between reservoirs, injection of a sample plug into the channel leading to the detection reservoir, and the CE separation of sample components in the channel. A customized electronics module was designed to control LOC operation. Sample analysis is done with manual filling of the channel network with background electrolyte/buffer solution and a drop of the sample solution applied to the sample reservoir. Individual sample runs generally take under one minute. Samples are removed with the application of a slight vacuum to the detection reservoir. Topics covered include LOC performance and future opportunities. Work is under way on LOC devices with 3D electrodes because the increased surface area could enhance sample processing abilities that involve analyte pre-concentration, interference removal, and so on.