We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App





Low Cost Point-of-Care DNA Amplification Test for Chlamydia Infection Demonstrated at the 2015 AACC Annual Meeting

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 29 Jul 2015
Researchers have demonstrated a low cost, point-of-care NAAT (nucleic acid amplification testing) platform that meshes with a smartphone application for rapid diagnosis of Chlamydia infection at the 2015 AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo (Atlanta, GA, USA).

Chlamydia trachomatis causes sexually transmitted genital and eye infections in humans. More...
Chlamydia infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide; it is estimated that about one million individuals in the United States are infected with Chlamydia. C. trachomatis is naturally found living only inside human cells. It can be transmitted during vaginal, anal, or oral sex, and can be passed from an infected mother to her baby during childbirth. Between half and three-quarters of all women who have a chlamydial infection of the cervix have an inflamed cervix without symptoms and may not realize they are infected. In men, infection by C. trachomatis can lead to inflammation of the penile urethra causing a white discharge from the penis with or without a burning sensation during urination.

Over the past decade, the emergence of highly sensitive method NAAT-based tests has expanded screening programs for Chlamydia. However, these types of tests are too complex and expensive to perform in point-of-care settings such as physicians’ offices, health fairs, school clinics, or other sexual health outreach venues.

Investigators from Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD, USA) have taken advantage of the Annual AACC Meeting venue to demonstrate their novel point-of-care NAAT/smartphone platform. Their coffee mug sized "mobiLab" instrument is battery powered. The device works by using a microfluidics cartridge to detect the DNA of Chlamydia bacteria in genital swab samples. The DNA analysis unit with its automated sample preparation mechanism is meshed with a smartphone, which enables the user to control the instrument and process test data through an application.

The developers of mobiLab validated the device's performance by comparing its accuracy on 20 patient samples with that of the Hologics (Bedford, MA, USA) GenProbe Aptima Combo 2 assay, the gold standard test for Chlamydia. Results indicated that both tests identified the same 10 positive and 10 negative cases, demonstrating that mobiLab could be used for Chlamydia diagnosis in place of standard NAATs.

“We now have these pretty accurate, sensitive, and specific molecular assays to detect very few numbers of organisms in biological samples,” said Dong Jin Shin, a research student in mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins University. “But a lot of these technologies are confined to being used in centralized lab settings. If we are able to bring molecular diagnostic technology closer to the clinic and deliver accurate results to clinicians sooner, then we will be able to improve our standard of care for patients with Chlamydia while also saving costs.”

Related Links:

2015 AACC Annual Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo
Johns Hopkins University
Hologics



New
Gold Member
Serological Pipets
INTEGRA Serological Pipets
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Automatic Hematology Analyzer
LABAS F9000
New
Hemodynamic System Monitor
OptoMonitor
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: A diagnostic test can distinguish patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who can be cured with surgery alone (Photo courtesy of University of Turku)

Novel Diagnostic Tool to Revolutionize Treatment Guidance of Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a solid tumor type commonly treated with surgery. However, there has been no clinically available method to determine which patients can be cured with surgery... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The microfluidic device for passive separation of platelet-rich plasma from whole blood (Photo courtesy of University of the Basque Country)

Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The 3D paper-based analytical device has shown high clinical accuracy for adult-onset immunodeficiency (Photo courtesy of National Taiwan University)

Paper-Based Device Accurately Detects Immune Defects in 10 Minutes

Patients with hidden immune defects are especially vulnerable to severe and persistent infections, often due to autoantibodies that block interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a key molecule in immune defense.... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The groundbreaking salmonella antimicrobial resistance prediction platform has demonstrated 95% accuracy (Photo courtesy of Yujie You et al., DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.01.013)

New Platform Leverages AI and Quantum Computing to Predict Salmonella Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella strains are a growing public health concern due to the overuse of antimicrobials and the rise of genetic mutations. Accurate prediction of resistance is crucial for effective... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The Check4 gene-detection platform (Photo courtesy of IdentifySensors)

Electronic Biosensors Used to Detect Pathogens Can Rapidly Detect Cancer Cells

A major challenge in healthcare is the early and affordable detection of serious diseases such as cancer. Early diagnosis remains difficult due to the complexity of identifying specific genetic markers... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.