Researchers have created a mobile version of the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), the gold standard technique used to detect the presence of an antibody or antigen. Instead of sending patients to a laboratory, new cell phone-based technology allows for the very same test to be conducted in the doctor’s office, clinic, or even in a remote area.
The device accurately measures progesterone levels, a key hormone that impacts female fertility and is indicative of some cancers. MELISA consists of a water bath heater that incubates samples at a target temperature and analyzes them via images taken by mobile phone. It uses color analysis to determine the RGB (red, green, blue) color components of each sample. The blue color component is used for further analysis due to its sensitivity to the changes in progesterone concentration.
The portable MELISA weighs just one pound, dramatically helping older patients suffering chronic conditions and those across the world who have difficulty getting to clinical labs.
For more information, visit here .
