D S Y Ong1, M Poljak2. 1. Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: davidsyong@gmail.com. 2. Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Point-of-care (POC) tests provide an alternative to traditional laboratory-based diagnostics due to reduced turnaround times, portability and no need for highly trained laboratory staff. Smartphones can be integrated into POC platforms because of their multifunctionality, enabled by high-quality digital cameras, computer processors, touchscreen interface and wireless data transfer. It is predicted that by 2020 about 80% of the world population will use smartphones. OBJECTIVES: This review summarizes the current state of the art regarding smartphones as part of a mobile microbiological laboratory. SOURCES: Selected peer-reviewed publications on smartphone-based microbiological testing published between January 2015 and August 2019. CONTENT: Smartphones can be used as instrumental interfaces, dongles, microscopes or test result readers (brightfield, colorimetric and fluorescent measurements), or combined with amplification methods such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests in portable POC test platforms. Smartphone-based tests offer opportunities for microbiological diagnostics in remote areas and both resource-limited and resource-rich settings. Wireless connectivity may facilitate epidemiological studies and creation of spatiotemporal disease prevalence maps. However, the current analytical performance of many smartphone-based POC tests must be improved and carefully validated in clinical settings by comparison with current diagnostic standards. IMPLICATIONS: Recent developments in smartphone-based POC tests for infectious diseases are promising, as evidenced by results from many proof-of-concept studies. Further progress will foster large-scale implementation of smartphone-based POC as mobile microbiological laboratories in the near future.
BACKGROUND: Point-of-care (POC) tests provide an alternative to traditional laboratory-based diagnostics due to reduced turnaround times, portability and no need for highly trained laboratory staff. Smartphones can be integrated into POC platforms because of their multifunctionality, enabled by high-quality digital cameras, computer processors, touchscreen interface and wireless data transfer. It is predicted that by 2020 about 80% of the world population will use smartphones. OBJECTIVES: This review summarizes the current state of the art regarding smartphones as part of a mobile microbiological laboratory. SOURCES: Selected peer-reviewed publications on smartphone-based microbiological testing published between January 2015 and August 2019. CONTENT: Smartphones can be used as instrumental interfaces, dongles, microscopes or test result readers (brightfield, colorimetric and fluorescent measurements), or combined with amplification methods such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) tests in portable POC test platforms. Smartphone-based tests offer opportunities for microbiological diagnostics in remote areas and both resource-limited and resource-rich settings. Wireless connectivity may facilitate epidemiological studies and creation of spatiotemporal disease prevalence maps. However, the current analytical performance of many smartphone-based POC tests must be improved and carefully validated in clinical settings by comparison with current diagnostic standards. IMPLICATIONS: Recent developments in smartphone-based POC tests for infectious diseases are promising, as evidenced by results from many proof-of-concept studies. Further progress will foster large-scale implementation of smartphone-based POC as mobile microbiological laboratories in the near future.
Authors: Joanna Long; Helen E Parker; Katjana Ehrlich; Michael G Tanner; Kevin Dhaliwal; Bethany Mills Journal: Biomed Opt Express Date: 2020-03-09 Impact factor: 3.732
Authors: Katharina Last; Nicholas R Power; Sarah Dellière; Petar Velikov; Anja Šterbenc; Ivana Antal Antunovic; Maria João Lopes; Valentijn Schweitzer; Aleksandra Barac Journal: Clin Microbiol Infect Date: 2021-06-28 Impact factor: 8.067
Authors: Stephen J Goodswen; Joel L N Barratt; Paul J Kennedy; Alexa Kaufer; Larissa Calarco; John T Ellis Journal: FEMS Microbiol Rev Date: 2021-09-08 Impact factor: 16.408