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Smartphone Attachment Can Test For HIV In 15 Minutes

Posted by timothy on from the text-anxiety dept.

stephendavion writes A team of researchers from Columbia University have developed a device that can be plugged into a smartphone and used to quickly test for HIV and syphilis. The mobile device tests for three infectious disease markers in just 15 minutes by using a finger-prick of blood, and draws all the power it needs from the smartphone, Science Daily reports. The accessory costs an estimated $34 to make and is capable of replicating tests done in a laboratory using equipment that costs many thousands of dollars.

6 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Better Story Link by Fnord666 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here is a link to the original article cited by the Times that contains more detail.

    --
    'The tyrant will always find pretext for his tyranny.' - Aesop's Fables
  2. Re:Sex tourist's dream... by Noah+Haders · · Score: 4, Informative

    if an HIV test helps you decide whether or not to wear a cover, then you're one risky mofo.

  3. Re:Get your own by bmo · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Pricking yourself with something that an infected person used is a sure-fire way to get an infection.

    It's as if you don't even know how diabetic test strips, and other test strips like this one, work, or even that lancets of all kinds are disposable.

    If you RTFA and click through to the Science Daily article, you'd read this:

    "During the field testing in Rwanda, health care workers were given 30 minutes of training, which included a user-friendly interface to aid the user through each test, step-by-step pictorial directions, built-in timers to alert the user to next steps, and records of test results for later review. The vast majority of patients (97%) said they would recommend the dongle because of its fast turn-around time, ability to offer results for multiple diseases, and simplicity of procedure."

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/re...

    That is fucking spectacular.

    Shut the fuck up.

    --
    BMO

  4. Re:Get your own by masterofthumbs · · Score: 5, Informative

    The device has replacable cassettes that contain the reagents for the testing. To develop a device like this only to have it capable of spreading infection would be an incredibly stupid oversight.

  5. window period by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Too bad HIV has a window period of three weeks to three months.

  6. Re:Get your own by bmo · · Score: 3, Informative

    The very next comment after mine starts with "Imagine if you can prick the finger of a hooker in a Pattaya bar while you're drinking". Tell me again that warning people not to share a device like that is unnecessary.

    So rather than read, you decide to double-down on the stupid.

    Let me explain this loudly and slower so you may understand.

    T_H_E__L_A_N_C_E_T_S__A_R_E__D_I_S_P_O_S_E_D__A_F_T_E_R__U_S_E

    Thrown away, into the trash. With the cap placed back on so nobody gets stuck. They come in boxes of 100 and they are fucking cheap. No sane person re-uses a lancet.

    You're exhibiting some weapons-grade stupid there, guy.

    --
    BMO