New Malaria Detection Method

In Scotland, at the University of Glasgow, researchers have developed a device that can actually detect the presence of the malaria in a blood sample. The device, which is being called a microchip, detects the disease within a matter of minutes. Malaria, which is believed to kill between 1 to 3 million people each year, is a dangerous disease which is caused by 4 different types of malaria parasites. The disease is often transmitted through mosquitos, and causes flu like symptoms with high fevers and shaking chills. In non-third world countries, malaria is often not considered in the differential and the ailment is left undiagnosed. With the increase of international travel however, cases of the most deadly strain of malaria have gone up, leaving many to die due to the wrong diagnosis. This is were the new device comes in. By quickly and conveniently checking for malaria, the hope is to accurately diagnose the patients and get them on the correct treatment as soon as possible. The old method required taking a blood sample and examining it under a microscope. Not only did this increase the possibility for misdiagnosis due to human error, but it also took a long time to examine each sample. The microchip on the other hand is all automatic, requiring only a small blood sample and then quickly returning a result without the chance of human error. When a patient is given the correct anti-malarial drugs, a full recovery can be expected. By decreasing the cost and time for diagnoses, fewer patients will be given the wrong treatment, and death rates will decrease.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8015241.stm