New phone accessories detect HIV

A smartphone (whether an iPhone or an Android device), a cheap accessory, and a blood sample can diagnose HIV and syphilis within 15 minutes. Researchers at Columbia University on the 4th said that the mobile phone accessories developed by them have been tested in Rwanda and its performance is almost as good as the existing standard diagnostics.

Researchers in the new issue of the United States, "Science and Translational Medicine" magazine said that the mobile phone accessories have various functions of laboratory blood test equipment, through the detection of virus antibodies to diagnose HIV virus and syphilis, and the cost is only 34 US dollars (about Combined RMB 210). It should be noted that a set of traditional high-level HIV laboratory testing equipment is priced at about 18,000 US dollars (approximately 111,000 yuan), and traditional detection instruments are not only bulky and difficult to move, but also require power.

In Rwanda, after 30 minutes of training in the use of medical staff, this part was used to test the puncture blood of 96 patients in the local area. Most of these patients were female, and there was a risk of transmission of STD among mothers and babies. Less than 15 minutes later, the test results are displayed on the screen of the mobile phone. The accuracy is comparable to that of the current standard ELISA, but the latter may take 2 hours or more.

This device uses a smartphone or iPad to provide power. The tested person can detect the HIV virus and syphilis by placing a finger on a button and dropping a drop of blood into it through acupuncture. After the test is complete, the results can be displayed directly on the screen of the smart device.

By contrasting with the standard test results, the research team found that the accuracy of this detector was between 92% and 100% when identifying a case with a target antibody, and when it was judged that the case was not infected, the accuracy was 79% to 100%. The patients who participated in the test indicated that they were more willing to use the mobile phone accessories that they could carry with them than the traditional laboratory tests.

The head of research, Samuel Siiah, an associate professor at Columbia University, said in a statement: “Our work shows that high-quality laboratory immunoassays can be completed using smartphone accessories. Such (mobile) capabilities will change the world Health care services."

This device, which is plugged into a smartphone or computer, is also called a "dongle." The researchers said that it consists of a microfluidic box that is small, light, and uses only a small palm, and that it uses very little electricity. It plugs into the smartphone's audio jack to run. If used on a large scale, it is expected to increase the rate of early detection of sexually transmitted diseases, which may reduce syphilis mortality to 10% of current levels, and help early use of antiretroviral therapy for AIDS and reduce the risk of HIV transmission.

The researchers also revealed that they are planning a larger clinical trial and hope that the World Health Organization can approve such mobile accessories for use in developing countries.