A new portable device can detect malaria within seconds in cheaper cost

Kolkata, October 20: Nowadays many poor patients face problem to have a blood test for fevers like Malaria, dengue due to high cost. By paying only Rs 10, within a few seconds now malaria detection is possible. Researchers from two institutes in Kolkata have developed such a portable device.

"We have attached a mobile phone camera on a paper microscope which can be used to take image of blood sample on a slide with some chemicals, and the data can be processed at a central server to detect the presence of malaria cell," IIEST, Shibpur Head of Department, IT, Dr Arindam Biswas said.

The paper microscope can also be termed as “Foldscope”. The optical microscope is made from very simple components. Through a remote control, the result of the test can be directly sent to the registered doctor for checking.

Even the making process of this detection kit is very cheap. It will only cost RS 80. The machine is named as Centaur. The team has also got the patent for it.

"The entire process will not cost much considering the conventional microscope is high-priced. And we have registered 90% accuracy in test cases,” Arindam Biswas added.