June 10, 2016.
John Lewandowski, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has developed a tool that can detect malaria in 5 minutes.
Malaria still kills many
In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded an estimated 214 million cases and some 438,000 deaths from malaria worldwide, including 305,000 African children. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region that records 89% of cases and 91% of deaths due to this disease, transmitted to humans by mosquito bites.
The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more likely patients are to get out of it. This is why a young engineer, John Lewandowski, developed a tool capable of detecting malaria in 5 minutes. This device called RAM (for Rapid Assessment of Malaria), can diagnose the disease from a single drop of blood.
An extremely fast method
Currently, the presence of the disease can be detected by demonstrating Plasmodium in the blood by examination under a microscope, by blood smear and thick film techniques (parasitological diagnosis). But, in Africa, most cities do not have the medical structures to perform these microscopic tests.. Many patients therefore cannot detect malaria infection in the very early stages.
John Lewandowski’s device would allow these tests to be carried out more easily and quickly. Concretely, this tool detects magnetic fields emitted by malaria parasites. In the event of illness, crystals will form when the blood test is taken. This device could be a small revolution, in particular thanks to its rapidity of diagnosis. Another plus is the price: the RAM runs on battery power which costs around $ 100 to $ 120.
To read also: Malaria, the opinion of our doctor
