A new handheld, sound-based diagnostic system can deliver precise results in an hour with a mere finger prick of blood. The researchers used tiny particles they call functional negative acoustic contrast particles (fNACPs) and a custom-built, handheld instrument or acoustic pipette that delivers sound waves to the blood samples inside.

The fNACPs (essentially cellsized rubber balls) can be customized with functional coatings so they recognize and capture a designated biomarker of interest, such as an infectious virus or a protein deemed a red flag for a brewing health problem. The particles also respond to the pressure from sound waves differently than blood cells. The acoustic pipette harnesses this unique response.

This could be particularly useful for assessing not only whether a patient has an infectious disease but also what their viral load is and how fast it is growing. The device could also potentially play a role in measuring antibodies to determine whether someone needed a booster shot or not, testing for allergies, or detecting proteins associated with certain cancers. (Image credit: University of Colorado Boulder)

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Diagnostics Medical

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    This article first appeared in the January, 2025 issue of Medical Design Briefs Magazine (Vol. 15 No. 1).

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