Virus test

A cheap analogue of the "litmus test" will detect HIV and flu by a drop of blood

Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+

Researchers from the Netherlands and Japan has created a practical and reliable way to diagnose infectious diseases. All it requires is a drop of blood, a test strip and a digital camera.

The test detects diseases by analyzing antibodies that the body secretes in the presence of viruses and bacteria. The mechanism is based on a sensory protein that glows blue when in contact with blood. Then it changes color to green. But if there are a lot of antibodies in the sample, they block this process.

Thus, the more intense the blue glow of the test strip impregnated with protein, the more antibodies there are in the blood, according to a press release from the Eindhoven University of Technology Glow-in-the-dark paper as a rapid test for infectious diseases. This indicates the presence of pathogens.

The reaction gives a result after 20 minutes. To assess the result more accurately, the researchers recommend using a smartphone camera or any other. Scientists emphasize that the technique is not only accessible, but also very accurate. By measuring the ratio of blue and green, you can get quantitative information about the concentration of antibodies. This allows not only to diagnose, but also to adjust the dose of medications during treatment.

In experiments, the approach made it possible to successfully identify antibodies to three diseases simultaneously – HIV, influenza and Dengue fever.

The authors of the study hope that the test strips will be available in the next few years. They will be especially useful in tropical regions, where hospitals often do not have the necessary equipment for diagnosis.

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