Smartphone-Based Optical Imaging Offers Onsite Diagnostics

The device is able to capture multi-color fluorescence and bright-field images of the same quality as those obtained by traditional light microscopy.

The device analyzes a tissue or cell sample in a dedicated container by recording multi-mode images of the sample during processing and feeding the data to an algorithm. The algorithm automatically analyzes the images to read the sequenced bases of the extracted tumor DNA and identifies genetic mutations directly inside the tumor tissue.

“It is very important to have these molecular testing approaches at a doctor’s office or where care is being given,” said senior author Dr. Mats Nilsson, professor of biochemistry and biophysics at Stockholm and Uppsala Universities. “Oftentimes, advanced lab-based testing is performed at major hospitals, which is limiting, as not everyone has access to a hospital that can perform these tests.”

The device was described in detail in the January 17, 2017, online edition of the journal Nature Communications.