SINGAPORE, Sept 23 — A research team including scientists from Nanyang Technological University and A*STAR has developed a test device for liver toxicity that will be able to give results in minutes — a significant reduction in time compared with current laboratory tests, which take several days.
With the technology, which works like a “lab in a needle”, doctors will be able to treat the patient on the spot.
The device is the brainchild of a joint team from NTU, A*STAR Singapore Institution of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech), and the Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institution, affiliated with Cornell University.
The lab-in-a-needle device, claimed as the only one of its kind in the world, has proven that point care testing will be possible in the near future, according to NTU Professor Joseph Chang, 54, who spoke about plans to mass produce the device.
As the device will still undergo changes, such as integrating the external machines to read the biomarkers and integrating the use of two chips into one — all without compromising accuracy to diagnose the patients — it will only be made available in the market in four to five years.
The current prototype will take under one hour to obtain the toxicity results. This is expected to be reduced to 30 minutes after more research and development. — TODAY
