US scientists say they’ve developed a lightweight device — called an iTube — that attaches to a cellphone to detect allergens in food samples. Aydogan Ozcan, leader of the research team at the University of California, Los Angeles, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, said the iTube attachment uses the cellphone’s built-in camera. Along with an accompanying smartphone application, the device runs a test with the same high level of sensitivity a laboratory would. Several products detect allergens in foods, but require bulky equipment, making them ill-suited for use in public settings. Weighing less than 2 ounces, the attachment analyzes a test tube-based allergen-concentration test known as a colorimetric assay, Ozcan said. Food samples were initially ground up and mixed in a test tube with hot water and an extraction solvent, and the mixture was allowed to set for several minutes. Then, following a step-by-step procedure, the prepared sample was mixed with a series of other reactive testing liquids, the researchers said. The sample is measured optically for allergen concentration through the iTube platform, using the cellphone’s camera and a smart application running on the phone, Ozcan said. The kit digitally converts raw images from the cellphone camera into concentration measurements detected in the food samples. The device can quantify how much of an allergen is in a sample, in parts per million. The iTube platform tests for a variety of allergens, including peanuts, almonds, eggs, gluten and hazelnuts, Ozcan said.
GMT 09:41 2017 Sunday ,19 November
Delhi half-marathon to go ahead despite smog, court rulesGMT 19:27 2017 Monday ,06 November
Plea for 'urgent action' on climate shadowed by TrumpGMT 17:50 2017 Saturday ,04 November
Trump admin sued over stalling to protect sea turtlesGMT 19:12 2017 Wednesday ,04 October
Scotland says no to frackingGMT 12:19 2017 Friday ,29 September
Trump lifts Puerto Rico shipping restrictionsGMT 20:30 2017 Wednesday ,27 September
Dutch court to hear new case on I.Coast chemical spillGMT 18:30 2017 Sunday ,24 September
What now? Mexicans in shelters ask themselves after quakeGMT 21:52 2017 Wednesday ,20 September
Desperate parents, missing children at quake-hit Mexico City schoolMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor