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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.

2 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Sex tourist's dream... by Rick+in+China · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Imagine if you can prick the finger of a hooker in a Pattaya bar while you're drinking, "just as a joke!", and figure out whether you need to strap on a condom or not. Wonderful invention for all the people who need immediate HIV tests for their partners! Yay for sex tourism!

    Until it goes wrong and doesn't work. This type of thing is a litigation nightmare. Looks like vaporware to me, and the actual legitimate applications seem few.

    1. Re:Sex tourist's dream... by Anon-Admin · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Honestly I can see a lot of good uses for it. From testing in third world countries by Doctors without borders to testing a partner before you go without a condom. Most people get to know each other before they drop the condoms but how many actually go down and get tested? I know I do and I ask my partners to before we drop the condom but from most peoples reaction I can tell that it is not a common request.

      Hell how many get regularly tested? I get tested a couple of times a year but from what I can tell most don't and have no real idea what their status is. Some are afraid of getting tested for fear of being labeled or having that status known by the government, insurance, or anyone else. This allows personal, anonymous testing. So something like this could be a great thing to have.

      You know the second it becomes available it will be used by insurance companies during the initial physical. There is a market for such a device and if it makes it to production I see it being a BIG seller.