Smart phone tests kidneys

A newly developed application for a mobile phone could help monitor the conditions of diabetic and kidney patients and detect bladder infections in a clearer and simpler way, both for patients and doctors, and could eventually be used to reduce or limit the spread of epidemics in developing countries.

A newly developed application for a mobile phone could help monitor the conditions of diabetic and kidney patients and detect bladder infections in a clearer and simpler way, both for patients and doctors, and could eventually be used to reduce or limit the spread of epidemics in developing countries.
The application, developed by researchers from the University of Cambridge, measures color-based (colorimetric) tests with great precision, for use at home, in the clinic or in remote and remote areas, and enables the transfer of medical data from patients directly to health professionals.

The decentralization of health services through cheap and portable diagnostic kits that test the patient at home has the potential to lead to a breakthrough in the field of patient screening. At the same time, the diagnosis can encounter many failures due to insufficient infrastructure and a lack of skilled medical workers, especially in developing countries. Overcoming such challenges by developing accessible diagnostic methods can reduce the disease burden imposed on workers in the health services industry.

Thanks to their portability, convenient size, and ease of use, the diagnostic kits are commonly used for medical monitoring, drug testing, and environmental analysis in a wide range of areas around the world. The tests, usually in the form of small strips, work by creating color changes in the solution: the intensity of the resulting color indicates the concentration of the tested substance in the solution. These tests can be challenging to read, especially when they are performed in the patient's home or in remote areas. Misreadings are common, and can lead to misdiagnosis or mistreatment. Professional laboratory equipment can be used, such as spectrophotometers or reading devices designed for specific tests, in order to make the production of readings automatic and highly sensitive, however, this equipment is expensive and bulky.

The new app, called Colorimetrix, makes accurate color test readings simpler, using only a mobile phone. The application uses the phone's camera and a mathematical algorithm to convert the data obtained from the color tests into a numerical value of the concentration of the tested substance on the phone's display within a few seconds. After testing the urine, saliva or other body fluids using the color test, the user simply takes a picture of the test results with their mobile phone camera. The applet analyzes the received colors, compares them to pre-calibrated colors, and displays a numerical result on the phone's display. After that, you can store the obtained result, send it to a medical professional, or analyze it directly over the phone for a preliminary diagnosis. The application can be used at home, in a clinic, or in remote and remote areas, and is suitable for Android or iOS operating systems. The app was able to accurately measure glucose and protein concentrations and the pH level of test strips from commercially available test kits for urine samples based on color change without requiring additional equipment - and this is the first time that an app has ever been used in this way in a laboratory experiment. Details about the app and its benefits were recently published in the scientific journal Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical.

Beyond its use in the laboratory, the application will also be used by the patients themselves to monitor chronic conditions such as diabetes, or as a means of monitoring public health, by transmitting the medical data to professionals in real time. "This app has the potential to help our fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in developing countries, bringing the concept of mobile healthcare into the real world," said Ali Yetisen, a PhD student in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, who was the lead researcher. "Transmitting medical data quickly from the field to doctors or central laboratories may help slow down or limit the spread of epidemics."

In addition to its medical uses, the researchers plan to release the app to the general public so that it can be used in other color tests such as laboratory kits, veterinary diagnostics and as an environmental monitoring tool. "This applet can be a substitute for laboratory equipment and thereby save a lot of money for clinics and research institutes," said Dr. Leo Martinez, who developed the applet. The research team plans to use the app for clinical trials of kidney function and infections. The applet is now available for research purposes through the website

The news about the development