Scientists have developed a fast, paper-based test to diagnose tuberculosis that can be read with a smartphone. Diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) early can allow patients to receive the medicine they need and also help prevent the disease from spreading. Diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) early can allow patients to receive the medicine they need and also help prevent the disease from spreading. However, in resource-limited areas, equipment requirements and long wait times for results are obstacles to diagnosis and treatment.
To tackle this problem, a scientist from National Taiwan University and colleagues come up with a more practical diagnostic test that can be read with a smartphone. The researchers combined gold nanoparticles with fluorescent single-stranded DNA sequences that bind to the genetic material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause TB. These nanoparticles were then…
