MIT‘s Hamad-Schifferli Group and Lee Gehrke have developed a paper strip test that can detect Ebola, Yellow Fever, and Dengue Fever in 10 minutes. The strips are color coded, using triangular silver nanoparticles, to distinguish among diseases.
The test relies on lateral flow technology, used in pregnancy tests and for diagnosing strep throat and bacterial infections. As blood serum flows along the strip, viral proteins that match the antibodies painted on the strips will get caught, becoming visible. This can be seen by the naked eye or with a mobile phone’s camera.
This is the first time that a multiplexing approach, using multicolored nanoparticles to screen for multiple pathogens, has been done.
Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC 2015 – June 30 @ New York Academy of Sciences