Biochip speeds up blood analysis to detect infection

December 11th, 2011 - 2:45 pm ICT by IANS  

London, Dec 11 (IANS) Scientisits have devised a way through which speed can save lives especially in the case of sepsis or infection.

With a new biochip, physicians will now be able to analyze blood samples to detect infection within 20 minutes.

The biochip has been developed by the Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM at Freiburg.

“To analyze the biochip we have also designed a fully automatic device to carry out all the examination steps,” explained Albrecht Brandenburg, group manager at the IPM, according to a university statement.

“All the doctor has to do is place the sample in the apparatus and wait for the results,” added Brandenburg.

The current practice is to draw a blood sample and send it to a central lab for testing. This takes up valuable time - which could cost the patient his life.

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