A $3 'coffee filter' device could detect colorectal cancer in under an hour
A remarkable new device promises to make cancer detection cheaper, faster and more accessible.
As described in an upcoming issue of Lab on a Chip, researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) say they have developed a system that can detect cancer markers in the blood with greater responsiveness than current diagnostic methods.
Known as a paper-in-polymer-pond (PiPP) device, the new testing platform combines paper similar to the kind found in coffee filters with a plastic framework.
Using a drop of blood from a patient, the PiPP targets two cancer markers: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is linked to colorectal cancer, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which indicates prostate cancer.
CEA and PSA show up in the blood in the early stages of cancer, making them historically difficult to detect. However, the new device can catch these markers at low concentrations, making them roughly 10 times more sensitive than testing kits on the market.
“Our new biochip device is low-cost — just a few dollars — and sensitive, which will make accurate disease diagnosis accessible to anyone, whether rich or poor,” lead author XiuJun (James) Li, a UTEP professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said in a statement.
“It is portable, rapid, and eliminates the need for specialized instruments,” Li added.
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