Handheld, mobile phone-based microscopes can be used in developing countries after minimal training of community laboratory technicians to diagnose intestinal parasites quickly and accurately. A community-based study carried out in the Republic of Ivory Coast in West Africa found that two different handheld microscopes could both effectively rule in individuals infected by parasites.

Intestinal worms affect almost two billion people worldwide, predominantly in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water. In children, these parasites may lead to malnutrition, stunted growth and development, and can lead to chronic disability, with serious health and economic consequences.

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