Tuberculosis is one of the most acute medical problems for all humanity. Annual victims of the disease become millions of people. To cope with the epidemic is only possible by effective early diagnosis and timely therapeutic interventions. To help in this can a new mobile app that diagnoses tuberculosis with almost 100% accuracy!
Revolution in the diagnosis of tuberculosis
Scientists from the University of Anglia Ruskin (UK) and University of Putra (Malaysia) has created a mobile app that can make a revolution in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The accuracy of the technique is 98%, which is very pleased with scientists.
According to the world health organization, in 2017 it was revealed more than 10 million cases of tuberculosis and about 1.6 million deaths. The majority of cases (including fatal) have on poor countries, where the population has no access to timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Mobile application one of the ways to help poor countries to make a breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Of course, the app in no way can replace a doctor, but it can point the person to the need for a visit to the doctor.
How the app works
Developers have created a special biosensor, which is able to change color depending on the composition of the liquid that you put on it. In this case we are talking about mucus. If the sputum with infectious agents and the inclusion of typical of tuberculosis, the biosensor responds in a certain way, changing color. To capture the color change using the mobile phone, if you point the camera at the biosensor. Thus, the application in only a few seconds will show you the result.
To see the color change of the biosensor impossible, but the smartphone camera with this can handle, catching the change in wavelengths of light.
In the future, scientists plan to put on the biosensor DNA sequence probe, which can detect DNA of the infectious agent. Thus, the DNA sample test results are more reliable.
The main advantage of this method is the possibility of its use in regions where people can’t go a full diagnosis of tuberculosis. The cost of the biosensor, according to developers, will be 3-4 USD.
SEE ALSO:
TUBERCULOSIS: SYMPTOMS AND FIRST SIGNS
PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS
TUBERCULOSIS: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS