It is possible to diagnose an infection in just one hour with a smartphone device
Canada: Smartphones can now be connected to many medical devices that have their own uses. Now, Canadian experts have announced that they have developed a low-cost device that can detect a bacterial or viral infection in just one hour in two phases.
At present, if a doctor suspects an infection in a patient, he sends various body fluids to the laboratory where the effect of the disease or infection can be confirmed or denied. The entire lab is now housed in a smartphone-connected device that can fit in a human hand.
The system has been developed by McMaster University of Canada. According to scientists, testing for human fluids can reveal three major problems: First, it takes a few days for the report to arrive, during which the infection worsens. Secondly, in poor countries the situation is even worse because there is a severe shortage of laboratories. Third, if doctors prescribe antibiotics during this time, they become unnecessary if they do not work.
In this context, MacMaster has developed a prototype consisting of two parts, a two-channel (path) electrical sensor mounted on a chip. Its processing module is similar to a USB stick in which the chip fits.
As soon as a drop of blood, saliva, or urine is placed on the chip. The DNA already present in the chip interacts with the protein in the bacteria in the enzyme sample. And so the bacteria can be identified. All the results are displayed on the smartphone app and the results are displayed in minutes to an hour.
Experimentally, he identified E. coli bacteria in urine samples, which is a very harmful bacterium. In addition, the system can identify a variety of bacteria. But this system does not end there, but with a small change it can identify viral infections in many ways. It is even possible to identify code 19, but the chip will have to make some changes.
Leila Soleimani, another scientist working on the project, says the invention is a blessing in disguise for developing and poor countries and can make it much easier to diagnose the disease. On the other hand, unnecessary use of antibiotics may be reduced.
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