Scientists Hack Cellphone to Analyze Blood, Detect Disease, Help Developing Nations @ Wired…
A new MacGyver-esque cellphone hack could bring cheap, on-the-spot disease detection to even the most remote villages on the planet. Using only an LED, plastic light filter and some wires, scientists at UCLA have modded a cellphone into a portable blood tester capable of detecting HIV, malaria and other illnesses.
Blood tests today require either refrigerator-sized machines that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars or a trained technician who manually identifies and counts cells under a microscope. These systems are slow, expensive and require dedicated labs to function. And soon they could be a thing of the past.
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This technology has not been promoted enough. This cellphone’s value can seemingly save lives. Great invention!
Earlier this year Wired also wrote about another group of researchers who are doing similar work with TB and now working with engineers to get their devices out in the field. It’s amazing what you can do with what’s already out there.