We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

3D Printed Diagnostic Device Rapidly Detects Anemia

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 07 Mar 2016
Print article
Image: The Projet 1200 3D printer was able to easily produce and refine the device from environmentally friendly materials to make low cost, point-of-care devices that quickly detect anemia from a drop of blood (Photo courtesy of Kansas State University).
Image: The Projet 1200 3D printer was able to easily produce and refine the device from environmentally friendly materials to make low cost, point-of-care devices that quickly detect anemia from a drop of blood (Photo courtesy of Kansas State University).
A new biomedical device has been developed using 3D printers to create a low cost, point-of-care device that can quickly detect anemia, a condition in which the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen to the body's organs.

Point-of-care devices give the user fast, easy-to-understand results from a test performed outside of a laboratory, such as a blood glucose test or pregnancy test and identifying a blood disorder may be as easy as running a blood sample from a finger prick under a smartphone.

Scientists at Kansas State University (Olathe, KS, USA) made the device with a Projet 1200 3D printer (3DSystems; Rock Hill, SC, USA) and designed it to detect anemia for individuals who have limited access to health care, such as those living in developing countries. Anemia affects two billion people worldwide, including more than half of preschool children and pregnant women in developing countries and at least 30% of children and women in some industrialized nations.

The device consists of 3D printed clear plastic slides containing microfluidics that attach to a smartphone. The user adds a drop of their blood to a slide, which is used for a color scale-based test. The test results are produced in less than 60 seconds and can be read using a smartphone. A companion app is being developed with Steve Warren, PhD, an associate professor in electrical and computer engineering at Kansas State University, which could manage data from the blood sample and even send the results to a doctor.

Kim Plevniak, a master's student in biological and agricultural engineering, who worked on the device, said, “Anemia is a very prevalent condition in developing countries even though it is easily treated with iron supplements or vitamins and can be prevented with a healthy diet. Often in these developing countries people will have much easier access to smartphones than they will to doctors and trained medical professionals.”

Related Links:

Kansas State University 
3Dsystems


Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
Unit-Dose Packaging solution
HLX
New
Leishmania Test
Leishmania Real Time PCR Kit
New
Chlamydia Test Kit
CHLAMYTOP

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The new saliva-based test for heart failure measures two biomarkers in about 15 minutes (Photo courtesy of Trey Pittman)

POC Saliva Testing Device Predicts Heart Failure in 15 Minutes

Heart failure is a serious condition where the heart muscle is unable to pump sufficient oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It ranks as a major cause of death globally and is particularly fatal for... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The FDA clearance for the QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Mini test follows the recent approval of QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel Plus (Photo courtesy of QIAGEN)

Respiratory Panel to Help Clinicians Make Precise Treatment Decisions in Outpatient Settings

Respiratory tract infections are the primary reason for visits to emergency departments and subsequent hospitalizations. In the U.S., it is estimated that there are up to 41 million cases of influenza... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: QScout CBC will give a complete blood count in 2 minutes from fingerstick or venous blood (Photo courtesy of Ad Astra Diagnostics)

Next Gen CBC and Sepsis Diagnostic System Targets Faster, Earlier, Easier Results

Every hour is critical in protecting patients from infections, yet there are currently limited tools to assist in early diagnosis before patients reach a hospital. The complete blood count (CBC) is a common... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The InfectoSynovia test has the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

High-Accuracy Bedside Test to Diagnose Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Five Minutes

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents a significant global issue that is worsening as the number of joint replacements increases due to aging populations. In the United States alone, the anticipated... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The new technique allows properties of cancer cells and their surrounding tissue to be analyzed in detail at single-cell level (Photo courtesy of Universität Helsinki/Karolina Punovuori)

New Imaging Method Opens Door to Precision Diagnostics for Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers, while considered rare, represent a significant portion of cancer cases and have seen a notable increase over the past 30 years. These cancers encompass various malignant tumors that... Read more