Cell Phone Microscopes - The CellScope Diagnoses Malaria (GALLERY)

A research team at UC Berkeley is working on a potentially life-saving technology that could diagnose Malaria using a cell phone and a special microscope. This is a great breakthrough as it eliminates the need of a physician’s physical presence during a diagnosis, making it easy for people in remote areas without proper health services to be diagnosed. 

The CellScope conveniently performs the diagnosis by putting a slide containing a blood or tissue sample under it. “A ring of bright LEDs illuminates the sample, and if faint blue dots appear, the patient is positive for malaria. The image can then be transmitted to medical experts for analysis and recommendations.”

The researchers are developing the CellScope to diagnose tuberculosis as well.