via Medical Xpress
New, affordable mobile device could aid people in developing countries
The management of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV), an autoimmune disorder that cripples the immune system by attacking healthy cells, remains a major global health challenge in developing countries that lack infrastructure and trained medical professionals. Investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have designed a portable and affordable mobile diagnostic tool, utilizing a cellphone and nanotechnology, with the ability to detect HIV viruses and monitor its management in resource-limited regions. The novel platform is described in a paper published recently in Nature Communications.
“Early detection of HIV is critical to prevent disease progression and transmission, and it requires long-term monitoring, which can be a burden for families that have to travel to reach a clinic or hospital,” said senior author Hadi Shafiee, PhD, a principal investigator in the Division of Engineering in Medicine and Renal Division of Medicine at the Brigham. “This rapid and low-cost cellphone system represents a new method for detecting acute infection, which would reduce the risk of virus transmission and could also be used to detect early treatment failure.”
Traditional virus monitoring methods for HIV are expensive, requiring the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Shafiee and his colleagues sought to design an affordable, simple tool that makes HIV testing and monitoring possible for individuals in developing countries with less access to medical care.
Utilizing nanotechnology, a microchip, a cellphone and a 3D-printed phone attachment, the researchers created a platform that can detect the RNA nucleic acids of the virus from a single drop of blood. The device detects the amplified HIV nucleic acids through on-phone monitoring of the motion of DNA-engineered beads without using bulky or expensive equipment. The detection precision was evaluated for specificity and sensitivity.
Researchers found that the platform allowed the detection of HIV with 99.1 percent specificity and 94.6 percent sensitivity at a clinically relevant threshold value of 1,000 virus particles/ml, with results within one hour. Notably, the total material cost of the microchip, phone attachment and reagents was less than $5 per test.
“Health workers in developing countries could easily use these devices when they travel to perform HIV testing and monitoring. Because the test is so quick, critical decisions about the next medical step could be made right there,” said Shafiee. “This would eliminate the burden of trips to the medical clinic and provide individuals with a more efficient means for managing their HIV.”
“We could use this same technology as a rapid and low-cost diagnostic tool for other viruses and bacteria as well,” said lead author Mohamed Shehata Draz, PhD, an instructor in the Division of Engineering in Medicine and Renal Division of Medicine at the Brigham.. “This platform could help a lot of people worldwide.”
Learn more: Cellphone Technology Developed to Detect HIV
The Latest on: Cellphone technology
via Google News
The Latest on: Cellphone technology
- Mastercard (MA) Emphasizes Easy Checkout With Biometric Technologyon May 18, 2022 at 9:58 am
Mastercard (MA) launches the Biometric Checkout Program, which empowers consumers to make biometric payments without mobile wallets or cards to ensure accelerated checkout experiences.
- 5 Ways Technology Can Save Your Restaurant Time and Moneyon May 18, 2022 at 9:24 am
Upgrading your technology in your restaurant can help you save time and money. Here are five ways restaurant technology can keep your business running smoothly.
- How Innovation in Technology Helping In Every Field of Lifeon May 18, 2022 at 9:02 am
Innovation in technology has brought about a revolution in almost every field of life. It has made communication faster, transportation easier, and the world smaller. In this age of information and ...
- Sony wants you to wear its new LinkBuds S true wireless earbuds all day every dayon May 18, 2022 at 9:01 am
You’ve no doubt noticed that more and more people are wearing true wireless earbuds all the time—not simply while listening to music. That trend isn’t lost on Sony. With the company’s new LinkBuds S—a ...
- Always On? Try “Never Off” Fit With the New Sony LinkBuds S Wireless Earbudson May 18, 2022 at 9:00 am
Audio quality among true wireless earbuds is at a level never before seen; in fact, it’s reaching a point where advancing any further would probably only be noticed by serious audiophiles. The key to ...
- Hyundai Motor Group and SOSLAB to Jointly Develop LiDAR for Mobile Robotson May 18, 2022 at 8:31 am
and SOSLAB will offer advanced 3D high-resolution LiDAR design technologies and its accumulated know-how on software technology. Through this collaboration, Hyundai Motor Group aims to develop an ...
- Liz Soares: Setting ground rules with technologyon May 18, 2022 at 8:07 am
Thinking about how social media and cellphone can become distractions from living life ... This is an example of the affectionate part of my love/hate relationship with technology. I listen to music ...
- Mobile Games Market is expected to grow significantly by 2027|CAGR: 15.8%| UnivDatos Market Insightson May 18, 2022 at 8:00 am
A comprehensive overview of the Mobile Games Market is recently added by UnivDatos Market Insights to its humongous database. The report has been ...
- NEP Group Releases Supershooter 6, its latest IP-Powered, Next-Gen Mobile Uniton May 18, 2022 at 7:02 am
NEP Group, the leading media technology partner for content creators around the globe, announced today that its U.S. Broadcast Services team has released a new mobile unit, Supershooter 6, powered by ...
via Bing News