[guide.chat] colour test

  • From: "harold kitching" <harold.kitching01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "guide chat" <guide.chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 10:52:57 -0000

Cheap colour test picks up HIV. By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, 
BBC News 
Two vials showing the test results Blue for yes, red for no 
Related Stories. 
A cheap test which could detect even low levels of viruses and some cancers has 
been developed by UK researchers. 
The colour of a liquid changes to give either a positive or negative result.
The designers from Imperial College London say the device could lead to more 
widespread testing for HIV and other diseases in parts of the world where other 
methods are unaffordable.
The prototype, which needs wider testing, is .
The test can be configured to a unique signature of a disease or virus - such 
as a protein found on the surface of HIV.
If that marker is present it changes the course of a chemical reaction. The 
final result is blue if the marker is there, red if the marker is not.
The researchers say this allows the results to be detected with "the naked eye".
Prof Molly Stevens told the BBC: "This method should be used when the presence 
of a target molecule at ultra-low concentration could improve the diagnosis of 
disease. 
"For example, it is important to detect some molecules at ultra-low 
concentrations to test cancer recurrence after tumour removal. 
"It can also help with diagnosing HIV-infected patients whose viral load is too 
low to be detected with current methods."
Early testing showed the presence of markers of HIV and prostate cancer could 
be detected. However, trials on a much larger scale will be needed before it 
could be used clinically.
The researchers expect their design will cost 10 times less than current tests. 
They say this will be important in countries where the only options are 
unaffordable.
Fellow researcher Dr Roberto de la Rica said: "This test could be significantly 
cheaper to administer, which could pave the way for more widespread use of HIV 
testing in poorer parts of the world."
More on This Story. 
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