Development and evaluation of a low‐cost, portable, LED‐based device for PDT treatment of early‐stage oral cancer in resource‐limited settings

Abstract Background Treatment of HCV with direct-acting antivirals has enabled the discussion of HCV eradication worldwide. Envisioning this aim requires implementation of mass screening in resource-limited areas, usually constrained by testing costs. Methods We validated a low-cost, rapid diagnosis test (RDT) for HCV in three different continents in 141 individuals. Results The HCV RDT showed 100% specificity and sensitivity across different samples regardless of genotype or viral load (in samples with such information, 90%). Conclusions The HCV test validated in this study can allow for HCV screening in areas of need when properly used.

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TeleSpiro: A low-cost mobile spirometer for resource-limited settings

2013 IEEE Point-of-Care Healthcare Technologies (PHT) ◽

10.1109/pht.2013.6461305 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

C. William Carspecken ◽

Carlos Arteta ◽

Gari D. Clifford

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Resource Limited

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Direct Viral RNA Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and DENV in Inactivated Samples by Real-Time RT-qPCR: Implications for Diagnosis in Resource Limited Settings with Flavivirus Co-Circulation

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10121558 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 1558

Author(s):

Zhan Qiu Mao ◽

Mizuki Fukuta ◽

Jean Claude Balingit ◽

Thi Thanh Ngan Nguyen ◽

Co Thach Nguyen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Early Stage ◽

Rna Extraction ◽

Viral Rna ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Heat Inactivation ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Rna Detection ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Starting Point

The RT-qPCR method remains the gold standard and first-line diagnostic method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 and flaviviruses, especially in the early stage of viral infection. Rapid and accurate viral detection is a starting point in the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic and flavivirus outbreaks. However, the shortage of diagnostic reagents and supplies, especially in resource-limited countries that experience co-circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and flaviviruses, are limitations that may result in lesser availability of RT-qPCR-based diagnostic tests. In this study, the utility of RNA-free extraction methods was assessed for the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 and DENV-2 in heat-inactivated or chemical-inactivated samples. The findings demonstrate that direct real-time RT-qPCR is a feasible option in comparison to conventional real-time RT-qPCR based on viral genome extraction-based methods. The utility of heat-inactivation and direct real-time RT-qPCR for SARS-CoV-2, DENV-2 viral RNA detection was demonstrated by using clinical samples of SARS-CoV-2 and DENV-2 and spiked cell culture samples of SARS-CoV-2 and DENV-2. This study provides a simple alternative workflow for flavivirus and SARS-CoV-2 detection that includes heat inactivation and viral RNA extraction-free protocols, with aims to reduce the risk of exposure during processing of SARS-CoV-2 biological specimens and to overcome the supply-chain bottleneck, particularly in resource limited settings with flavivirus co-circulation.

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Low cost HIV-1 quantitative RT-PCR assay in resource-limited settings: Improvement and implementation

Journal of Virological Methods ◽

10.1016/j.jviromet.2012.06.015 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 185 (1) ◽

pp. 118-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Azzania Fibriani ◽

Nadya Farah ◽

Inri Kusumadewi ◽

Suzan D. Pas ◽

Reinout van Crevel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Hiv 1

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Design and Validation of a Low-Cost Microscope for Diagnostics in the Developing World

Microscopy Today ◽

10.1017/s155192950999099x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 16-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

B. Cline ◽

R. Luo ◽

K. Kuhlmann

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Infectious Diseases ◽

Developing World ◽

Low Cost ◽

High Resolution Imaging ◽

Microscope Examination ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Resolution Imaging

Many infectious diseases prevalent in the developing world, including malaria and tuberculosis, are difficult to diagnose on the basis of symptoms alone but can be accurately detected using microscope examination. Currently the expense, size, and fragility of optical microscopes impede their widespread use in resource-limited settings. Addressing these obstacles facing microscopy in the developing world is a pressing need; over 800,000 people, primarily children in Africa, die annually of malaria, and more than 1,500,000 people die annually of tuberculosis [1][2]. The aim of this study is to design and validate a microscope for use in the developing world that combines high-resolution imaging, extreme affordability, and long-term durability.

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A 3D-printed hand-powered centrifuge for molecular biology

10.1101/519835 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Gaurav Byagathvalli ◽

Aaron F. Pomerantz ◽

Soham Sinha ◽

Janet Standeven ◽

M. Saad Bhamla

Keyword(s):

Molecular Biology ◽

Low Cost ◽

Power Source ◽

Medical Diagnostics ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Resource Limited ◽

External Power Source ◽

External Power ◽

3D Printed ◽

Proof Of Principle

The centrifuge is an essential tool for many aspects of research and medical diagnostics. However, conventional centrifuges are often inaccessible outside of conventional laboratory settings, such as remote field sites, require a constant external power source, and can be prohibitively costly in resource-limited settings and STEM-focused programs. Here we present the 3D-Fuge, a 3D-printed hand-powered centrifuge, as a novel alternative to standard benchtop centrifuges. Based on the design principles of a paper-based centrifuge, this 3D-printed instrument increases the volume capacity to 2 mL and can reach hand-powered centrifugation speeds up to 6,000 rpm. The 3D-Fuge devices presented here are capable of centrifugation of a wide variety of different solutions such as spinning down samples for biomarker applications and performing nucleotide extractions as part of a portable molecular lab setup. We introduce the design and proof-of-principle trials that demonstrate the utility of low-cost 3D printed centrifuges for use in remote and educational settings.

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Mobilefuge: A low-cost, portable, open source, 3D-printed centrifuge that can be used for purification of saliva samples for SARS-CoV2 detection

10.1101/2021.01.06.21249280 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mohini Bhupathi ◽

Ganga Chinna Rao Devarapu

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Power Supplies ◽

Testing Methods ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Viral Particles ◽

Nasal Swabs ◽

3D Printed ◽

Frequent Testing ◽

The Cost

One of the best ways to contain the spread of COVID-19 is frequent testing of as many people as possible and timely isolation of uninfected personnel from infected personnel. However, the cost of massive testing is affordable in many countries. The existing technologies might not be scalable to offer affordable testing for millions of people. To address this issue, novel testing methods based on Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) were proposed that are more sensitive, require less reagents and can work with saliva samples instead of more tedious nasal swabs. As a result, LAMP based protocols can make it possible to drive the cost down to one dollar per test. These LAMP based methods require a centrifuge device, mostly for separation of viral particles from reaction inhibitors in saliva samples. However, centrifuge is neither accessible nor affordable in many resource limited settings, especially during this pandemic situation when normal supply chains are heavily disrupted. To overcome these challenges, we invented a low-cost centrifuge that can be useful for carrying out low-cost LAMP based detection of SARS-Cov2 virus in saliva. The 3D printed centrifuge (Mobilefuge) is portable, robust, stable, safe, easy to build and operate. The Mobilefuge doesn't require soldering or programming skills and can be built without any specialised equipment, yet practical enough for high throughput use. More importantly, Mobilefuge can be powered from widely available USB ports, including mobile phones and associated power supplies. This allows the Mobilefuge to be used even in off-grid and resource limited settings. We believe that our invention will aid the efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 by lowering the costs of testing equipment. Apart from the COVID-19 testing, the Mobilefuge can have applications in the field of biomedical research and diagnostics.

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