1st lab-in-a-briefcase for faster cancer detection

Nov 2015

Scientists have developed the world's first portable lab-in-a-briefcase that can operate even at high temperatures, to boost early detection of cancer in developing countries. Believed to be the first kit of its kind dedicated to the portable measurement of cancer biomarkers, the concept is the brainchild of Dr Nuno Reis, a lecturer at the Loughborough University in UK, who developed it keeping in mind the lack of adequate technology to support a full laboratory in developing countries. 

The lab-in-a-briefcase comprises of four components; a manually driven multi-syringe device capable of performing up to 80 simultaneous tests from whole blood samples at any one time; microwell plates pre-loaded with assay reagents; a portable USB-powered film scanner to image the test strips; and a portable computer for real-time data analysis. The system requires just one operator with minimal training to conduct the test within 15 minutes. One of the remarkable features of the product is that it uses whole blood without the need for any sample preparation —a previously challenging task outside a laboratory.