A portable tester that will make express analysis for detecting viruses in a studied sample is underway in Russia.
Scientists of the Semiconductors Physics Institute (SPI) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have developed a method for rapid determination of hepatitis and other viruses. A quartz resonator used as a sensor makes it possible to detect minute particles and even single viruses, the leading researcher of the institute Fedor Dultsev reports.
"Using our development makes it possible not just to establish if there is hepatitis in a sample, but also study the structure of the particle. It has turned out that this virus is a structure consisting of particles poorly connected with each other. Once the virus clings to a surface, it does not come off it completely, but starts falling into pieces. Our technology enabled us to see it", - the official publication Science in Siberia of the Siberian Branch, RAS cites the scientist.
The method invented by Novosibirsk scientists enables them to distinguish bacteria of different types and measure the strength of their contact with a surface - when particles come off the surface experts register a special acoustic signal. All this helps to detect single viruses and bacteriophages (the viruses, which selectively affect bacterial cells).
The innovation solves various problems that require measurement of the force of a particle's binding to the surface. Before undertaking the detection of the hepatitis virus the method was already used for untwisting the DNA double helix.
Presently Novosibirsk scientists jointly with the MBA Technology company are developing a portable tester. According to Mr. Dultsev, the advantages of the upcoming device include its simple hardware and easy preparation of samples for the analysis.
Production of a pilot batch of the device is expected next year. This is when it will be clear how affordable the innovation's cost will be. Initially it will be used in laboratories and possibly reach usual hospitals later.