Foldscope could be a better alternative to clinical microscope

The Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, in collaboration with a team of doctors from a government hospital in Panchkula, Haryana, a private hospital in the National Capital Region (NCR), and a medical college from Imphal, have explored and validated the clinical utility of Foldscope in the diagnosis of diseases using various patient samples.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

Foldscope is an affordable origami-based microscopy device composed of a series of paper clippings.

The device can hold a specimen slide for observation, and this specimen can be viewed via a mobile phone camera attached to it.

The study evaluated the use of the Foldscope in the clinical diagnosis of oral and urinary tract infections and evaluated its efficacy as a motivational tool for improving oral health among school children in India.

The study identifies that Foldscope is particularly convenient to diagnose urinary tract infection (UTI) and monitor kidney stone.

Using this tool, one can easily monitor own-kidney stone status at home with a simple glass-slide, a Foldscope and a phone in hand.

Such monitoring could perhaps avoid kidney stone reaching a painful state or surgery in recurring cases.