scholarly journals Development and on-site evaluation of an easy-to-perform and low-cost food pathogen diagnostic workflow for low-resource communities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Glenn Mason ◽  
José Ramón Botella
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Food Quality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Diagnostic System ◽  
Dna Amplification ◽  
Clear Correlation ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
Regulatory Authorities ◽  
Food Pathogen ◽  
Site Evaluation

AbstractFood-borne diseases are a leading cause of illness and death in many developing countries and thus, there is a real need to develop affordable and practical technologies that can help improve food safety in these countries. The ability to efficiently identify food pathogens is essential to allow national regulatory authorities to monitor food quality and implement safety protocols. In this study, we have developed a simple, low-cost ($0.76 (USD)) complete food pathogen diagnostic workflow ideally suited for deployment in low-resource environments that uses a simple four step process (sample enrichment, cell lysis, DNA amplification, and naked-eye readout). The minimal number of steps and equipment involved in our diagnostic workflow, as well as the simplicity of the yes/no flocculation readout, allows non-technical personnel to perform and interpret the assay. To evaluate the system’s performance, we tested the entire system on fresh produce samples collected from local farms and markets in Cambodia for the presence of the E. coli O157 O-antigen polymerase, wzy. Although this was a proof-of-concept study, our system successfully revealed a clear correlation between the origin and condition of the produce collected and their likelihood of contamination. In conclusion, we believe that our easy-to-perform diagnostic system can have a significant impact on improving food quality and human health if adopted by regulatory authorities in developing countries due to the assay’s simplicity, affordability, and adaptability.

scholarly journals Low-Cost, Accessible Fabrication Methods for Microfluidics Research in Low-Resource Settings

Micromachines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoang-Tuan Nguyen ◽  
Ha Thach ◽  
Emmanuel Roy ◽  
Khon Huynh ◽  
Cecile Perrault
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Microfluidic Devices ◽  
Research Community ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Low Resource Settings ◽  
Limited Access ◽  
Low Resource

Microfluidics are expected to revolutionize the healthcare industry especially in developing countries since it would bring portable, easy-to-use, self-contained diagnostic devices to places with limited access to healthcare. To date, however, microfluidics has not yet been able to live up to these expectations. One non-negligible factor can be attributed to inaccessible prototyping methods for researchers in low-resource settings who are unable to afford expensive equipment and/or obtain critical reagents and, therefore, unable to engage and contribute to microfluidics research. In this paper, we present methods to create microfluidic devices that reduce initial costs from hundreds of thousands of dollars to about $6000 by using readily accessible consumables and inexpensive equipment. By including the scientific community most embedded and aware of the requirements of healthcare in developing countries, microfluidics will be able to increase its reach in the research community and be better informed to provide relevant solutions to global healthcare challenges.

scholarly journals System Architecture for IIoT-Based POC Molecular Diagnostic Device

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 60
Author(s):  
Byeong-Heon Kil ◽  
Ji-Seong Park ◽  
Chan-Young Park ◽  
Yu-Seop Kim ◽  
Jong-Dae Kim
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Diagnostic System ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Dna Amplification ◽  
System Structure ◽  
World Health ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
Target System ◽  
Open Platform

In this paper, we investigate an efficient structure for a point-of-care (POC) molecular diagnostic system based on the industrial Internet of things (IIoT). The target system can perform automated molecular diagnosis including DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and fluorescence detection. Samples and reagents are placed in a multi-room cartridge and loaded into the system. A rotating motor and a syringe motor control the cartridge to extract DNA from the sample. The extracted DNA is transferred to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chamber for DNA amplification and detection. The proposed system provides multiplexing of up to four colors. For POC molecular diagnostics, the World Health Organization demands features such as low volume, low cost, fast results, and a user-friendly interface. In this paper, we propose a system structure that can satisfy these requirements by using a PCR chip and open platform. A distributed structure is adopted for the convenience of maintenance, and a web-based GUI is adopted for the user’s convenience. We also investigated communication problems that may occur between system components. Using the proposed structure, the user can conveniently control from standard computing devices including a smartphone.

Low-Cost Technology for Water Pollution Control in Developing Countries

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (9-11) ◽  
pp. 1337-1352 ◽  
Author(s):  
G G Cillié
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Water Pollution Control ◽  
Local Labour ◽  
International Water ◽  
Design And Methods ◽  
Local Materials

An estimated 80 % of all illnesses in developing countries is in one way or another related to water. In order to alleviate this most serious condition, the united Nations has initiated the “International Water Decade”, for which the estimated costs are $600 000 million, a sum which is far beyond any available means. By application of “low-cost technology” this sum could be reduced to $100 000 million which brings the objective within the reach of possibility. Details are given of the design and methods of construction of units which are best suited to the specific requirements and which would be simple, reliable and economical to operate. These can be constructed largely from local materials and by local labour. The need for appropriate training of both operators and the user population is stressed.

scholarly journals Low-cost hybrid design of masonry structures for developing countries: Shaking table tests

2021 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 106675
Author(s):  
Anastasios Tsiavos ◽  
Anastasios Sextos ◽  
Andreas Stavridis ◽  
Matt Dietz ◽  
Luiza Dihoru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Shaking Table ◽  
Hybrid Design ◽  
Masonry Structures ◽  
Shaking Table Tests

MECHANIZATION OF POTATO GRADING ON SMALL-SCALE FARMS: A CASE STUDY FROM PERU

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. BUTLER ◽  
T. BERNET ◽  
K. MANRIQUE
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Market Integration ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Important Cash Crop

Potatoes are an important cash crop for small-scale producers worldwide. The move away from subsistence to commercialized farming, combined with the rapid growth in demand for processed agricultural products in developing countries, implies that small-scale farmers and researchers alike must begin to respond to these market changes and consider post-harvest treatment as a critical aspect of the potato farming system. This paper presents and assesses a low cost potato-grading machine that was designed explicitly to enable small-scale potato growers to sort tubers by size for supply to commercial processors. The results of ten experiments reveal that the machine achieves an accuracy of sort similar to commercially available graders. The machine, which uses parallel conical rollers, has the capacity to grade different tuber shapes and to adjust sorting classes, making it suitable for locations with high potato diversity. Its relatively low cost suggests that an improved and adapted version of this machine might enhance market integration of small-scale potato producers not only in Peru, but in other developing countries as well.

Comparison and verification of four field-based microbiological tests: H2S test, Easygel®, Colilert®, Petrifilm™

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patty Chuang ◽  
Stephanie Trottier ◽  
Susan Murcott
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Standard Method ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Single Test ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Microbiological Test ◽  
Technical Capacity ◽  
Larger Sample

The UN defines water supplies as ‘improved’ or ‘unimproved.’ These indicators are easy to measure, but do not reflect water quality, which requires laboratory or field tests. Laboratory and test availability, expense and technical capacity are obstacles for developing countries. This research compares and verifies four low-cost, field-based microbiological tests: the EC-Kit (Colilert® and Petrifilm™ tests), the H2S bacteria test, and Easygel®, against a standard method (Quanti-Tray®). The objectives are to: (1) verify the accuracy of the four field-based tests, (2) study the accuracy of these tests as a function of improved and unimproved sources; (3) recommend a single microbiological test, if appropriate, based on accuracy and cost, and/or (4) recommend a testing combination, if appropriate, based on accuracy and cost. The tests of 500+ total water samples from Capiz Province, Philippines and Cambridge, MA indicate that two-tests systems gave better results than a single test. Both the 100-mL H2S test + Petrifilm™ and the 20-mL H2S test + Easygel® combinations yield promising results, in addition to being inexpensive. None of the field-based tests should be used on their own. We recommend further verification of a larger sample size and scale be undertaken before these testing combinations are recommended for wider use.

scholarly journals Quantitative Analysis of Fluorescence Detection Using a Smartphone Camera for a PCR Chip

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3917
Author(s):  
Jong-Dae Kim ◽  
Chan-Young Park ◽  
Yu-Seop Kim ◽  
Ji-Soo Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Fluorescence Detection ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Dna Amplification ◽  
Fluorescent Detection ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Commercial System ◽  
Intensity Changes ◽  
The Difference

Most existing commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) instruments are bulky because they contain expensive fluorescent detection sensors or complex optical structures. In this paper, we propose an RT-PCR system using a camera module for smartphones that is an ultra small, high-performance and low-cost sensor for fluorescence detection. The proposed system provides stable DNA amplification. A quantitative analysis of fluorescence intensity changes shows the camera’s performance compared with that of commercial instruments. Changes in the performance between the experiments and the sets were also observed based on the threshold cycle values in a commercial RT-PCR system. The overall difference in the measured threshold cycles between the commercial system and the proposed camera was only 0.76 cycles, verifying the performance of the proposed system. The set calibration even reduced the difference to 0.41 cycles, which was less than the experimental variation in the commercial system, and there was no difference in performance.

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