Around the world people from rural and remote areas are facing serious health risks due to the unavailability of proper diagnosis facility this is due to the requirement of sophisticated analytical tools and needed scientific expertise [1]. But the good news is that, in most of the places you can find a smartphone. According to International TelecommunicationUnion (ITU), there are almost 7 Billion people around the world that is 95% of
the world population is connected by mobile-cellular network facility till 2016. People from any financial background can posses a smartphone due to its affordable cost and ease to operation. In India any place, rural or urban you can possibly find an smartphone [2]. A smartphone can be operated by anyone irrespective of any scientific knowledge due to its user friendly interface and less technicality.
A research group, under the guidance of Prof. Aydogan Ozcan of University of California, Los Angeles has developed a cost effective blood analysis platform within the smartphone using its cmos camera [3]. The developed imaging platform on the smartphone can be used to estimate white and red blood cell concentration. The same device can also be used to determine hemoglobin concentration in a patient blood sample. The custom developed android application quantifies the the number of blood cells in the sample from the captures photograph using in-built image processing algorithm. The hemoglobin concentration has been determined with the light absorption principle.
The results obtained from the smartphone blood analyzer were compared with the laboratory grade standard blood quality assessing tool Sysmex KN21 hematology analyzer and good correlation has been found as reported in their research findings in a peer reviewed journal. Moreover, the test results can be saved to the phone itself and can be shared with the patient instantly.
With simple blood sample preparation and cost-effective instrumentation, in future this type of smartphone based innovations can significantly help the deprived community around the world who are suffering from serious health risks.
1.http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/india-news/world-health-day-6-common-issues-afflicting-india/photo-Pm5xrcka4pxju68wOqFeKP.htmlWith simple blood sample preparation and cost-effective instrumentation, in future this type of smartphone based innovations can significantly help the deprived community around the world who are suffering from serious health risks.
2.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-3681418/Mobiles-mobility-key-rural-India-villagers-spend-smartphones-cars-ever.html
3.http://pubs.rsc.org/is/content/articlehtml/2013/lc/c3lc41408f
