Smartphone add-on performs malaria diagnosis at low cost

Sept. 10, 2015
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a smartphone-based device that can diagnose malaria at the point of care.

Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a novel point-of-care device for field-based diagnosis of malaria using a smartphone. The mobile-optical-polarization imaging device (MOPID) attaches to smartphones or tablets and co-opts the camera to detect birefringent hemozoin in histological samples, which is indicative of malarial infection.

Read full article on Medgadget.

Our take:

Researchers at Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) have developed a smartphone-based device that can diagnose malaria at the point of care. The device, dubbed the mobile-optical-polarization imaging device (MOPID), attaches to smartphones or tablets and uses their cameras to detect a particular biomarker for malarial infection in histological samples.

The research team developed MOPID recognizing that evaluation of Giemsa-stained blood smears via brightfield microscopy, which is the gold standard for malaria detection, often requires skilled technicians and laboratory environments with large, expensive pieces of equipment that aren't available in remote, resource-poor areas. MOPID is far lower in cost, the researchers claim, and has demonstrated resolution of 1.05 μm, system magnification in the range of 50x, and field of view measuring 0.78 × 0.79 mm, which compares well to results generated from the expensive brightfield microscopy method.

The team is working to make the MOPID device smaller and lower in cost, with the ultimate goal of pricing the test under $1 per result worldwide. They are also concentrating on preparing devices for in vivo field testing in Rwanda.

You might also like:

Sponsored Recommendations

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) electrode manufacturing

Jan. 31, 2025
Learn how an industry-leading Brain Computer Interface Electrode (BCI) manufacturer used precision laser micromachining to produce high-density neural microelectrode arrays.

Electro-Optic Sensor and System Performance Verification with Motion Systems

Jan. 31, 2025
To learn how to use motion control equipment for electro-optic sensor testing, click here to read our whitepaper!

How nanopositioning helped achieve fusion ignition

Jan. 31, 2025
In December 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved fusion ignition. Learn how Aerotech nanopositioning contributed to this...

Nanometer Scale Industrial Automation for Optical Device Manufacturing

Jan. 31, 2025
In optical device manufacturing, choosing automation technologies at the R&D level that are also suitable for production environments is critical to bringing new devices to market...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!