Capillary electrophoresis is a powerful biochemical analysis tool that can be incorporated into laboratory-on-a-chip devices to facilitate on-site diagnosis. These devices enhance diagnostic support services in a general urban healthcare context, but are crucially needed in RURAL settings in order to maximize benefits from fast online medical consultation. The quest for it to operate using small sample volumes, which has strong advantages, is currently hindered by manufacture and usage limitations inherent in closed fluidic designs. In this project, we seek to harness, through careful investigation, the use of liquid capillarity, novel optical sensing and effective particle trapping and concentration in order to yield an easy-to-use and inexpensive capillary electrophoresis instrument. The immediate test-bed of this technology will be in the accurate measurement of protein or small peptide concentrations in blood to facilitate cardiovascular disease studies and their monitoring.