New research turns smartphones into virus and infection testing devices

Small devices like smartphones can contribute to improving health care in rural and remote areas.

Washington State University scientists have successfully developed a lab model on smartphones. It has the ability to do tests for a high success rate like in a traditional laboratory.

Working with 771 specimens of 12 common viral and bacterial infectious diseases, the device produced quite positive results when the average failure rate was only 1%. Overall, test smartphones achieved 97 to 99.9% accuracy.

Scientists are working with at Washington State University.

The device is compact in size, equipped with a reader and camera to capture samples. These images are then analyzed by computer software to produce results.

The components that make up this test system cost about 50 USD and if mass production will be lower.

Researchers believe that the device will help with faster diagnosis and more effective treatment. In rural and underdeveloped areas, specimens must be sent to the higher level for testing. Therefore, this will be an effective solution to help medical staff in these places soon get results. Even the device is of great help in case of rapid disease spread.

'The device will increase the likelihood of implementing health care services. If we learn about infectious diseases, we will treat them faster. This makes a difference in remote areas , 'said Lei Li, head of research.

New research is published in Clinica Chimica Acta.