17:15 02 November 2015
Researchers from Tec De Monterrey in Mexico and the University of Houston have developed a device – which should be available within two years – that can detect diabetes using a saliva sample, eliminating the need for needles. The researchers said that the device, which is adaptable to mobile phones, will provide immediate results and could be useful especially for low-income areas.
Project coordinator Doctor Marco Antonio Rite Palomares, director of the Biotechnology Center at Tec de Monterrey, said: “It’s as simple as pregnancy tests, where the specific marker shows in a few seconds.”
“While the idea is to make the patient’s life easier, we also want to bring health care to the low-income population, helping to make and early detection before it can lead to more problems and take action to prevent high costs for the population and the government.”
Now the developers are seeking a group who may be interested in the mass production of the device.