Using a smartphone to test for UTIs? Oh, come on now.

Nope, don’t even think about the idea of dipping your smartphone into your urine to see if you have the dreaded UTI but it’d be pretty darn close, so read on. Researchers at Britain’s University of Bath have developed a simple point-of-care test for urinary tract infections that uses a smartphone camera. The system can rapidly detect the presence of E. coli in urine samples and could guide doctors in their decision to prescribe antibiotics, ensuring appropriate patient care and avoiding the overuse of antimicrobial medication.

The new device consists of a plastic strip containing micro capillaries, over which a user can pass a urine sample. Antibodies present in the device will bind to bacteria, such as E. coli (present in approximately 80% of urinary tract infections), in the urine, immobilizing them. An enzyme then causes a color change that can be seen using a smartphone camera. The system can analyze the resulting image and provide an indication of the concentration of bacteria in the sample. The process takes less than 25 minutes.

Read the entire story HERE.