Researchers at National Taiwan University have developed a small handheld device that can determine blood type and estimate the red blood cell ratio in about one minute, using a small drop of blood, without the need for electricity or large laboratory equipment.
Mechanism of Action and Results
The device relies on a precise plastic chip on which a drop of blood taken from the finger is placed, then rotated by a centrifugal mechanism operated by a hand crank, to push the blood through microchannels containing chemicals that help determine the blood type. The results appear as red strips in channels dedicated to detecting blood types A and B and the Rh factor.
Accuracy and Tests
The researchers explained that the device requires only about three microliters of blood, and its mechanism relies on trapping red blood cell aggregates within microscopic slits in the chip, allowing for visual reading of the results. Tests conducted on 21 blood samples taken from hospital patients showed a close agreement between the device's results and those of standard analysis machines.
Future Applications
Researchers hope the device will contribute to providing rapid preliminary tests in ambulances, disaster zones, and remote health centers, where access to electricity or specialized laboratory equipment may be difficult, although its approval for medical use will require further evaluation and verification of its accuracy on a wider range of samples.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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