Researchers at Tezpur University have developed a portable and affordable smartphone-based device for detecting Tuberculosis (TB), making significant strides in healthcare technology. This innovative diagnostic tool, led by Professor Pabitra Nath from the physics department, aims to serve rural and isolated communities where access to advanced healthcare facilities is limited.
Unlike traditional methods that rely on chemical dyes and complex procedures, this device utilizes the natural autofluorescence of TB bacteria for detection. A representative from the university explained that it includes a built-in heating system to enhance test accuracy and offers the convenience of smartphone operation. Priced at under Rs 25,000 and weighing less than 300 grams, this device is particularly well-suited for regions with minimal healthcare resources.
Professor Nath pointed out the limitations of conventional optical microscopy methods, such as LED-FM, which require expensive equipment, chemical staining agents, and trained personnel for sample handling and analysis. The new device, by contrast, leverages autofluorescence principles. The team’s key innovation involves integrating a heating element within the sensor, which increases the temperature of the bacterial sample, thereby amplifying the fluorescence signal from the mycobacterium tuberculosis cells. This process allows for trace-level detection without the need for dyes or chemicals.
The research team includes scholars Biprav Chetry and Chunuranjan Dutta from the Physics Department, as well as JP Saikia and Santanu Goswami from the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Department, with Abhijit Gogoi representing Labdig Innovations and Systems Pvt. Ltd. The team has filed a patent for their invention (Indian Patent Application No. 202431035472), and their findings have been published in the international journal “Biosensors and Bioelectronics.”
Tezpur University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Shambhu Nath Singh, congratulated the research team on this groundbreaking development, highlighting its potential to enhance TB detection efforts, especially in rural settings where timely diagnoses are critical.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/mobile-device-to-make-tb-screening-simpler/articleshow/122981520.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-07-29 23:13:00
