Local Doctors Invent Device That Could Revolutionize Pathogen Diagnosis
Portable machine uses mouth swab to identify in seconds viruses, bacteria and other pathogens
A new invention coming out of Detroit could revolutionize health care. The Seraspec machine allows doctors to identify within seconds the cause of a patient’s illness. It’s as simple as an oral swab like those currently used for flu tests. But the device identifies viruses, bacteria and more. The portable machine uses laser technology called Raman Spectoscopy to identify infecting pathogens at a molecular level. Co-inventors Doctors Charles Shanley and Greg Auner say the device could prove invaluable for controlling outbreaks of viruses like Ebola. Shanley and Auner tell WDET’s Amy Miller that current diagnosis methods take hours up to days to identify pathogens.
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