Remember the fidget spinner fad? The devices have inspired a handheld lab to fight disease!
Fidget spinners used to be the rage among the younger set, but healthcare professionals may start twirling them to help fight bacterial infections. A group of Korean researchers have created a microlab based on a fidget spinner design. You insert a fluid sample to be tested, and special technology separates the bacteria and other pathogens from the rest of the liquid. Spinning the lab acts like a centrifuge to concentrate the sample enough so that the results can be viewed with the naked eye. No expensive equipment or microscope is required. Not only is this test quick and convenient, its low-cost construction means that it could be used in developing regions that lack sophisticated lab testing facilities. It also could lead to more tools for home testing and remote patient monitoring.