Thumbnail-sized hand-held device to detect 50 deadly food, air and water pathogens!

Now, testing for deadly pathogens in food, air and water will no more be a cumbersome and expensive affair. A Michigan State University researcher and his team have made it easier with their new device – it is portable and hand-held device that can detect up to 50 microbial threat agents in air, water and food! That sounds interesting! This hand-held ‘all-in-one pathogen testing center’ can amplify DNA and identify pathogen on the same DNA biochip – having a signature pieces of DNA attached to a silica surface that is similar to a computer chip. The biochip is about the size of a thumbnail. Syed Hashsham, an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Center for Microbial Ecology said, This device will give us the ability to measure pathogens in a manner and at a price that really matters for human health. If we can screen for all pathogens together, we can minimize the threat significantly.