Mobile microscope

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a cell phone microscope that takes colour images of malaria parasites.

The prototype of the so-called CellScope could help take clinical microscopy out of specialised laboratories and into field settings for disease screening and diagnoses.

'The same regions of the world that lack access to adequate health facilities are, paradoxically, well served by mobile phone networks,' said Dan Fletcher, UC Berkeley associate professor of bioengineering and head of the research team developing the CellScope. 'We can take advantage of these mobile networks to bring low-cost, easy-to-use lab equipment out to more remote settings.'

The engineers attached compact microscope lenses to a holder fitted to a cell phone. Using samples of infected blood and sputum, the researchers were able to use the camera phone to capture bright field images of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes malaria in humans, and sickle-shaped red blood cells.