<p>Scientists are developing a new 3D printed biomedical device that can make identifying anaemia as easy as running a blood sample from a finger prick under a smartphone, with test results being produced in less than 60 seconds.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Researchers from Kansas State University in the US are working on the low cost, point-of-care device for home use.<br /><br />Point-of-care devices give the user fast, easy-to-understand results from a test performed outside of a lab, such as a blood glucose test or pregnancy test.<br /><br />The device is made with a 3D printer and designed to detect anaemia for individuals who have limited access to health care, such as those living in developing countries.<br /><br />Anaemia is a condition in which the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen to the body's organs.<br /><br />It affects 2 billion people worldwide, including more than half of preschool children and pregnant women in developing countries and at least 30 per cent of children and women in industrialised nations.<br /><br />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 colour scale-based test, researchers said.<br /><br />The test results are produced in less than 60 seconds and can be read using a smartphone, they said.<br /><br />"Anaemia 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," said Kim Plevniak from Kansas State University.<br /><br />"Often in these developing countries people will have much easier access to smartphones than they will to doctors and trained medical professionals," said Plevniak.</p>
<p>Scientists are developing a new 3D printed biomedical device that can make identifying anaemia as easy as running a blood sample from a finger prick under a smartphone, with test results being produced in less than 60 seconds.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Researchers from Kansas State University in the US are working on the low cost, point-of-care device for home use.<br /><br />Point-of-care devices give the user fast, easy-to-understand results from a test performed outside of a lab, such as a blood glucose test or pregnancy test.<br /><br />The device is made with a 3D printer and designed to detect anaemia for individuals who have limited access to health care, such as those living in developing countries.<br /><br />Anaemia is a condition in which the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen to the body's organs.<br /><br />It affects 2 billion people worldwide, including more than half of preschool children and pregnant women in developing countries and at least 30 per cent of children and women in industrialised nations.<br /><br />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 colour scale-based test, researchers said.<br /><br />The test results are produced in less than 60 seconds and can be read using a smartphone, they said.<br /><br />"Anaemia 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," said Kim Plevniak from Kansas State University.<br /><br />"Often in these developing countries people will have much easier access to smartphones than they will to doctors and trained medical professionals," said Plevniak.</p>