Scientists experiment with HIV test via USB stick
Scientists have found a way to determine their virus levels in patients infected with HIV via a special USB stick. This should make it easier to monitor the virus in the body, because patients can do it themselves.
The method of detecting HIV is described in a scientific publication published by Scientific Reports. The proposed USB stick contains a cmos chip on which a drop of blood must be placed. The RNA, a kind of DNA derivative, from the HIV can then be replicated by a kind of internal copying machine. This is necessary because the small amount of RNA in a drop of blood is usually not sufficient for detection. By replicating the existing RNA, it can then be detected.
That detection ultimately occurs because the replication of the RNA changes the acidity of the blood. The production of new RNA creates hydrogen atoms, which make the blood more acidic. A built-in sensor detects that change in acidity, and can draw conclusions about the virus levels in the blood.
To function, the USB stick, which is still in a proof-of-concept phase, must be plugged into a PC. The experiments performed with the system show that it took an average of about 21 minutes to reach a conclusion. Testing has been carried out with approximately 1000 samples, and the research shows that the method is ‘close’ in terms of selectivity and sensitivity to what may be expected from a self-care device.
The method should make it possible for HIV patients to monitor their virus levels themselves. Despite the increase in medication for such patients, cure is not possible in most cases, and therefore it is necessary to measure virus levels in the blood regularly if infected. Incidentally, it is not yet clear when the new detection method can be launched on the market; the scientists will have to do more research first.
Such methods have been developed before for the detection of virus infections. For example, scientists came up with a smartphone accessory that can be used to detect HIV, among other things. However, this device is more complicated and larger.