New smartphone microphone-based parasite detection method developed

US researchers have developed a new smartphone-based method for detecting parasites in the blood that could aid the diagnosis of a number of diseases.

The University of California, Berkeley's new CellScope technology uses a smartphone microscope with a video feed to automatically detect and quantify infection by parasitic worms in a drop of blood.

Using motion instead of molecular markers or fluorescent stains to detect the movement of worms, the technology was shown to be as accurate as conventional screening methods in detecting conditions such as river blindness.

It is hoped that this could help medical professionals revive efforts to eradicate debilitating filarial diseases in Africa by providing critical information to health providers in the field.

Vincent Resh, a professor in UC Berkeley's department of environmental science, policy and management, said: "The availability of a point-of-care test prior to drug treatment is a major advance in the control of these debilitating diseases. The research offering a phone-based app is ingenious, practical and highly needed."