The UK scientists of Loughborough University have developed the world's first portable labin-a-briefcase that can operate even at high temperatures, aimed to boost early detection of cancer in developing countries. The concept is the brainchild of Dr Nuno Reis, a lecturer at the Loughborough University.
Believed to be the first kit of its kind dedicated to the portable measurement of cancer biomarkers, it is developed keeping in mind the lack of adequate technology to support a full laboratory in developing countries.
The system requires just one operator with minimal training to conduct the test within 15 minutes. One of the remarkable features of the product is that it uses whole blood without the need for any sample preparation —a previously challenging task outside a laboratory. The lab-in-a-briefcase comprises of four components; a manually driven multi-syringe device capable of performing up to 80 simultaneous tests from whole blood samples at any one time; microwell plates pre-loaded with Assay reagents; a portable USB-powered film scanner to image the test strips; and a portable computer for real-time data analysis.
A new affordable and disposable microfluidic test strip—comprising of tiny tubes about the size of a human hair—is used specifically for the quick measurement of different types of cancer biomarkers in a whole blood sample.
"Our lab-in-a-briefcase is both inexpensive and simple to use; it means that high precision diagnostic kits, complete with clinical laboratory equipment, can be made accessible to remote populations, and this is what makes it a truly life-changing concept for the screening and monitoring of different types of cancer," Reis said.
The technology, which operates in a similar way to a pregnancy test, has already been used successfully by Reis in a study that detected prostate cancer with the help of a smartphone camera.
Cancer cases are expected to rise by 70% over the next two decades, researchers said. The number of people dying from cancer in developing countries is on the rise. Cancer accounts for over 8 million deaths per year, with 70% of the deaths occurring in Africa, Asia and Central and South America. In developing countries, ordinarily people would not have easy access to early diagnostics.
The new portable lab can truly enhance the cancer detection efforts in developing countries.
View Latest News