Researchers in South Korea and South Africa are working hard to launch smart phones that can be used to test for HIV/AIDS in many parts of Africa through a revolutionary gadget called Smart Scope.
The research team is reported to have developed a microscope and an application that can photograph and analyse blood samples in areas far from laboratories to diagnose HIV and even measure the health of immune systems.
Smartscope, is a small 1-millimeter (0.04-inch) microscope and light which clips over a smartphones camera.
Our idea was to obtain images and analyse images on this smartphone using applications, said Jung Kyung Kim, a professor in biomedical engineering at Kookmin University in South Korea.
The new technology would be initially used for HIV/AIDS testing in rural communities in South Africa and Swaziland.
An estimated 6 million South Africans are infected with the HIV virus while an estimate 25% of Swazi adults are infected with the virus.
What do you think about Smart Scope? Do you think it can be a game changer for HIV/AIDS testing in Africa?
Though optimistic I dont think if it can really work, bse
1.HIV/AIDS testing require blood sample, enough blood
sample.. now depending on how type of test is from
Determine,Bioline, ELISA, DNA PCR etc.
2. It needs counselling, not all people can handle the stress
of being found +ve at easy.
3. Some of test are false negative(that's why it is insisted to
check thrice after specified period of time, now the risk of
being false +ve and when confirming found -ve??
they(inventors) can easily be sued!
4. No doctor/health care provider -patient/client
confidentiality, hence..no privacy abt one's health,
(WHO), How will they take it as?
There are many apps (finger print, mood scanner,etc) but they are for entertainment not for real if you'll read developers comments or in many SmartphonesTechn. forums.
Let us wait for it though.