The accessory replicates all mechanical, optical and electronic functions of a lab-based blood test, according to the Columbia Engineering report. It runs an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay without needing any stored energy, because it runs on power from the phone.
It was recently tested on 96 patients in Rwanda, and the work was published in Science Translational Medicine. During that test, providers were given just 30 minutes of training, as the accessory is user-friendly, according to the report. Nearly all (97 percent) of the patients would recommend the accessory because it is quick and simple and can test for multiple diseases at once.
“Our dongle [accessory] presents new capabilities for a broad range of users, from healthcare providers to consumers,” Samuel Sia, PhD, associate professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia Engineering, said in the report. “We are really excited about the next steps in bringing this product to the market in developing countries, and we are equally excited about exploring how this technology can benefit patients and consumers back home.”
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