'Paper machine' can now diagnose disease for less than $2

To reduce the cost of equipment required to check infections, scientists are now developing a portable low-cost paper machine for point-of-care detection of infectious diseases, genetic conditions and cancer.

American Chemical Society scientists believe that a part of the barrier to bring this kind of technology everywhere is that it often requires multiple steps under precisely controlled temperatures to prepare a sample and analyse it.

Using materials that cost a less than two dollar total, the researchers condensed sample preparation, DNA analysis and detection steps into a hand-held paper machine.

Further, the researchers claim that the results of the tests can be read using ultraviolet light and a smart-phone camera.

The research is published in the Journal Analytical Chemistry.