Diagnosing HIV and syphilis using smartphones

This device works very simply, and is capable of diagnosing these two diseases with high accuracy through a blood test from the fingertip.

Scientists in the US have just launched a device integrated into a smartphone, allowing for the rapid diagnosis and detection of sexually transmitted diseases.

This device operates very simply, and is capable of diagnosing HIV and syphilis with high accuracy through testing blood samples from the patient's fingertips.

The phone application will analyze blood samples of patients and provide results within 15 minutes. The pilot study of this smart device integrated on the phone was conducted in Rwanda, giving results that are almost as accurate as blood tests performed in conventional laboratories today.

This is considered good news for patients infected with HIV in remote areas of Africa to have the opportunity to be diagnosed early.

“Many patients do not have access to distant clinics to get their blood tested and receive results, which means they may not receive adequate treatment if they are infected,” said Sam Sia, an associate professor at Columbia University. “Especially in special cases, pregnant women with HIV or syphilis, if left untreated, can easily pass the disease to their children, and many babies born to these mothers have little chance of survival.”

It took scientists 10 years of research to create the above smart device, and its price is currently around 34 USD.

Integrating medical devices into smartphones is of particular importance because it marks a fundamental change in the community health care system, while also meeting the needs of consumers who are increasingly interested in using convenient personal medical devices at low prices./.

According to VOV.VN