Innovative Smartphone Labs

The researchers from Washington State University have developed a low-cost handy lab on a smartphone that can sense symptoms of cancer. The scientists are planning to translate bio detection technologies used in laboratories to the ground and clinic.

Through this new development, patients can easily get an idea of diagnoses at their near places for instance at their physician’s office. According to the researchers, this portable smartphone lab will ensure faster results to the patients and medical professionals. The researchers have created an eight channel smartphone spectrometer that can detect human interleukin-6 (IL-6).

Human interleukin-6 (IL-6) is known as a biomarker for lung, prostate, liver, breast and epithelial cancers. The inventor said a spectrometer detects the quantity and kind of chemicals in a model by evaluating the light spectrum. As this is small and can be carried anywhere, it can help doctors who work in remote areas furthermore it is ideal for clinics and hospitals, said the developers.