Scientists from Imperial College London and DNA Electronics based in London have created a device in the size of a usb that can detect HIV in less than 30 minutes.
This is the fastest, smallest and easiest way of detecting it so far HIV and even with high-precision results. At recent researches have been tested 991 blood samples with 95 percent accuracy, making about 21 minutes to produce a result.
Patients will be able to place a drop of blood on a spot on the USB stick, παρόμοια με τον τρόπο που χρησιμοποιείται στους διαβητικούς για να διαβάσουν τα επίπεδα σακχάρου στο αίμα τους. Αν ανιχνευτεί ο ιός HIV στην ευαίσθητη πλάκα της συσκευής τότε διεγείρεται μία αλλαγή στην οξύτητα η οποία μεταφράζεται σε ένα ηλεκτρικό σήμα στο chip που με την σειρά του μεταδίδεται από την unit USB drive to the computer.
Until now, detection of the virus requires expensive and complicated laboratory work latest technology equipment and it takes a couple of days to get the result. Scientists succeeded and shrunk this equipment, which is the size of a large photocopier, to just a few centimeters, the size of a USB stick.
Even if its final price is set at low levels then it will really help the inhabitants of underdeveloped countries who are literally plagued by disease.