Cellphone-based tech could cut lab visits for blood tests
New York: Researchers have developed a cellphone-based blood test technology that can provide immediate results in the comfort of one's home or a doctor's clinic, thereby cutting visits to the laboratory.
In a paper published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics, the researchers detailed a mobile version of the "Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay" (ELISA), the gold standard technique used to detect the presence of an antibody or antigen.
"ELISA is an important technology for biochemical analysis of proteins and hormones and is critical for the diagnosis of many diseases, such as HIV and Lyme Disease," said corresponding author Anna Pyayt, Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa, US.
"But the machines required for the incubation and reading are expensive and bulky," Pyayt said.
Instead of sending patients to a laboratory, the new cellphone-based technology - Mobile Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (MELISA) -- allows for the very same test to be conducted in the doctor's office, clinic or even in a remote area.
"The MELISA allows patients to undergo testing and obtain results at point-of-care," Pyayt said.
The device accurately measures progesterone levels, a key hormone that impacts female fertility and is indicative of some cancers.
It consists of a water bath heater that incubates samples at a target temperature and analyses them via images taken by mobile phone.
The device uses colour analysis to determine the RGB (red, green, blue) colour components of each sample.
The blue colour component is used for further analysis due to its sensitivity to the changes in progesterone concentration.
"It is designed to make biomedical testing simple and affordable. When low cost testing can be integrated with routine clinic visits, this would greatly improve the quality of healthcare and detect worrisome signs earlier," Pyayt added.
The portable MELISA weighs less than half a kg, and the researchers believe that it has the potential help older patients suffering chronic conditions and those across the world.
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NCERT developing special module on Operation Sindoor for classes 3 to 12
New Delhi: The National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) is reportedly developing two special modules on Operation Sindoor, aimed at familiarising students with India's military capabilities.
“While the first special module on Operation Sindoor will be for students of Classes 3 to 8 and second will be available for Classes 9 to 12. The aim of these modules is to make students aware about India's military power and how Pakistan was defeated once again,” Hindustan Times quotes its source as saying.
Each module will span approximately 8 to 10 pages and will focus on the achievements of the Indian Armed Forces.
These modules are expected to be introduced in the upcoming academic session and will supplement the existing syllabus.
In addition to Operation Sindoor, NCERT is also preparing modules on a range of national achievements and historical events. Upcoming topics include Mission LiFE ('LiFEStyle For Environment'), the horrors of Partition, and India's growing stature in space exploration—from the Chandrayaan and Aditya L1 missions to Subhanshu Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station, HT quoted a source from the education ministry as saying.
Meanwhile, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has written to states, directing them to mandatorily adopt NCERT textbooks for Classes 9 to 12. The board has also “strongly advised” that states use either NCERT or State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) books. Supplementary materials may be used by schools, provided they align with the National Curriculum Framework
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