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

Download Mobile App




Portable Raman Spectroscopy Offers Cost-Effective Kidney Disease Diagnosis at POC

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 30 Sep 2025

Kidney disease is typically diagnosed through blood or urine tests, often when patients present with symptoms such as blood in urine, shortness of breath, or weight loss. More...

While these tests are common, they can face challenges, including complex laboratory processes and unstable biomarkers. Traditional approaches are expensive and time-consuming, delaying detection and treatment. Researchers have now developed a portable, non-invasive diagnostic method using urine samples for detecting kidney disease.

A team of researchers from the Polytechnic University of Lisbon (IPL, Lisbon, Portugal), the Center of Technology and Systems (UNINOVA-CTS, Caparica, Portugal), and collaborators, has developed a portable Raman spectroscopy system to make kidney disease diagnostics more accessible. Drawing on the OpenRAMAN project’s “Starter Edition” methodology, they optimized the system through careful calibration. Adjustments included laser temperature control, emission spectrum evaluation, and ethanol-based acquisition tuning, enabling the device to capture subtle variations in urine composition.

System validation was performed on five urine samples, demonstrating sensitive and consistent spectral detection. A unique aspect of this study was the use of artificial intelligence (AI): a neural network trained on methanol and ethanol spectra classified samples with 99.19% accuracy and 99.21% precision in just three minutes. The integration of AI highlights the system’s potential to automate spectral analysis and support diagnostic decision-making. Findings were published in Sensors.

The portable system offers significant cost advantages over traditional Raman instruments, which can cost tens of thousands of euros. In contrast, the device could be priced below five thousand euros, making it feasible for clinical use, emergency care, and deployment in remote areas. This affordability, combined with portability, positions it as a promising tool for point-of-care diagnostics.

Challenges remain, including high noise levels and low peak intensity in acquired spectra. Researchers suggest that higher-power lasers could improve clarity by reducing fluorescence interference. Future work will expand testing on larger datasets of healthy and diseased patient samples to identify biomarkers linked to kidney disease. Plans also include refining optical elements to improve sensitivity and performance.


Gold Member
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Test
OSOM® RSV Test
Collection and Transport System
PurSafe Plus®
New
Gold Member
Automated MALDI-TOF MS System
EXS 3000
Gold Member
Automatic Hematology Analyzer
DH-800 Series
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








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New evidence shows viscoelastic testing can improve assessment of blood clotting during postpartum hemorrhage (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, yet many of these deaths are preventable. Standard care can be hindered by delays... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: When assessing the same lung biopsy sample, research shows that only 18% of pathologists will agree on a TCMR diagnosis (Photo courtesy of Thermo Fisher)

Molecular Microscope Diagnostic System Assesses Lung Transplant Rejection

Lung transplant recipients face a significant risk of rejection and often require routine biopsies to monitor graft health, yet assessing the same biopsy sample can be highly inconsistent among pathologists.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.