Engineers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a novel system that utilizes smartphones to rapidly detect the presence of toxin-producing algae in water samples. The highly sensitive measurements take only 15 minutes to calculate.
Their system can generate test results on-site and deliver real-time findings using the smartphone’s wireless communications capabilities. Applications of this innovative system could lead to the prevention of harmful microorganisms in water systems. Their findings are published in the scientific journal Harmful Algae.
The NUS invention is composed of three sections: a microfluidic chip, a smartphone, and a customizable 3D-printed platform that houses optical and electrical components.