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Low-cost device detects H1N1, other diseases

By: Larry Kusch

27/11/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 2

JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA Enlarge Image

Simon Liao, Francis Lin and Michael Zhang (from left) show prototype of device that won them a prize.

Local scientists are working on a portable, low-cost device that will quickly detect whether someone has -- or has had -- H1N1.

The researchers, who won a $5,000 local innovation award for their work last week, say the biochip sensor will allow a non-medical person to detect the flu virus in an hour for as little as $10 per test. Using current technology, such tests can cost a few hundred dollars each, they say.

The scientists also claim the portable device they are developing can be calibrated to detect antibodies indicating the onset of other infectious diseases like SARS, HIV and hepatitis B.

"This could be used in cancer detection," project leader Michael Zhang, a provincial biomedical engineer and an adjunct professor at the University of Winnipeg, said Thursday. "Someone could (conduct the test) at home or use it through their family physician's office."

Last week, Zhang and his colleagues won a local challenge event for innovators and entrepreneurs patterned on the model used for CBC's Dragon Den, defeating four other teams. Other members of his group include U of W computer scientist Simon Liao, electrical engineer Bin Huang and University of Manitoba biophysicist Francis Lin.

They will use the prize money and kick in some of their own to build a prototype of the hand-held device, which screens for specific diseases using a saliva test. After that, they'll need considerably more funding to conduct clinical trials to prove the device works before it is approved by agencies such as Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Joel Kettner, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said such diagnostic devices have potential benefits, as long as they're used appropriately and are accurate.

"For a surveillance tool, this could be quite useful and, if it was accurate enough, might be useful for someone who has no symptoms to ask the question, 'Do I need to get a flu shot?' " Kettner said Thursday.

But it's a different situation if you're using it to make a medical decision on an individual who is ill, he said. "You don't want a test that gets it wrong half the time when it says you've got H1N1..."

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 27, 2009 A5

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2 Comments

Posted by: kat

November 27, 2009 at 5:20 PM

Why would it matter if someone did have the H1N1...I did and it was no different than any other flu in its symptoms. It would be really useful if it could detect a chest infection however...then you would have a reason to go to the doctors.

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Posted by: SouthEndSam

November 27, 2009 at 2:55 PM

Local Winnipeg scientists -- making Star Trek's medical tricorders a reality.

And its not even the 22nd century, let alone the 23rd.

Great work gentlemen!!!