By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    improving patient experience
    6 Ways to Improve Patient Satisfaction Within Hospitals
    December 1, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    What Are The Health Benefits Of Having A Degree?
    March 9, 2022
    custom software development is changing healthcare
    Digital Customer Journey Mapping and its Importance for Healthcare
    July 21, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    narrow-road-ahead-sign
    Narrow Networks in California?
    March 24, 2016
    Insurer Has E-Security Problem
    August 26, 2017
    What Kind of Inequality Matters to You?
    October 19, 2011
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Onsite Detection of Malaria Could Be Possible with a Battery-Operated Device
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Devices > Onsite Detection of Malaria Could Be Possible with a Battery-Operated Device
Medical DevicesMedical InnovationsTechnology

Onsite Detection of Malaria Could Be Possible with a Battery-Operated Device

Deanna Pogorelc
Deanna Pogorelc
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

malaria detection device

First published in MedCityNews.

malaria detection device

First published in MedCityNews.

More Read

Assistive Technology Can Help People with Vision Disorders
IT Can Make a Big Difference in Healthcare: Why Hasn’t It?
What to Look For in Patient Management Software
10 Healthcare Industry Trends Guiding Medtech M & A
New Advances Improve Breast Cancer Diagnosis And Treatment

When Brian Grimberg and a team at Case Western Reserve University began working on their Rapid Assessment of Malaria (RAM) device nearly four years ago, it was the size of a kitchen table. Today, the functional prototype is a handheld device that the team thinks can diagnose the tropical disease more quickly, simply and affordably.

Like the rapid stick tests sometimes used to diagnose malaria today, the device is an antibody-based test that requires a single drop of blood collected from a person. But instead of taking 15 to 30 minutes to deliver results, the reusable, battery-operated device takes less than a minute. It scans the sample for a magnetic substance that malaria parasites release when digesting red blood cells and then delivers a positive or negative result on an LCD screen, according to John Lewandowski, CEO of Disease Diagnostic Group and a recent graduate of Case’s engineering management master’s program.

Grimberg, an assistant professor of international health, infectious disease and immunology at Case, started the work in his lab and called on the expertise of the Department of Biomedical Engineering to turn it into a portable device. When Disease Diagnostic Group was officially formed last summer, he became chief medical officer.

The company has just secured a two-year technology transfer option from Case and $250,000 from the Coulter Translational Partnership. With those two pieces in place, it’s ready to take its working prototype to Peru this fall for field studies. If it demonstrates accuracy and reliability there, Lewandowski said the company will pursue World Health Organization approval.

Grimberg said that because most malaria is treatable, a quicker, cheaper diagnostic test could save hundreds of thousands of lives a year. “The real advantage is that we can take it to the patients,” he said. “We can go into villages and screen people — even people who don’t feel sick but could carry the parasite. That’s another big advantage.”

Since it’s most prevalent in tropical areas, the malaria problem may seem to be a world away. But it’s actually one of the top causes of hospitalization among American troops, diplomats, missionaries and aid workers, too.

Current antibody-based stick tests also can cost as much as $35 per test. When you consider that almost half of the world’s population is at risk for malaria and there are some 219 million new cases a year, that’s a huge cost and time burden. Others still use plate microscopy tests, which require refrigeration, a microscope and trained personnel.

That’s why there’s been such a push for innovation in the field of malaria. Vaccines and new drug treatments are under development, and other companies like F-Cubed and Amplino are working on similar rapid tests.

Grimberg said the team has already seen a lot of interest from groups like the U.S. Army and Doctors Without Borders as they’ve presented at conferences. Lewandowski said they will do some re-engineering based on user feedback after the field tests and then should have beta customers lined up for the fall of 2014 to do more testing.

[Image credit: Disease Diagnostic Group]

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
Medical Innovations

5 Tactics for Increasing User Engagement for Your Medical Site

April 14, 2017

Ingredients of an Effective Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Be Sure to Add Health IT and Medical Device Innovation

June 15, 2012

Data, Sensors and Shoes: Conjecture Behind Nike’s Rumored Departure from Wearable Devices

April 25, 2014

Why Every Hospital Physician Should Have a Nexus 7 Google Tablet

August 29, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?