Data and Image Transfer Using Mobile Phones to Strengthen Microscopy-Based Diagnostic Services in Low and Middle Income Country Laboratories

Abstract

BackgroundThe emerging market of mobile phone technology and its use in the health sector is rapidly expanding and connecting even the most remote areas of world. Distributing diagnostic images over the mobile network for knowledge sharing, feedback or quality control is a logical innovation.ObjectiveTo determine the feasibility of using mobile phones for capturing microscopy images and transferring these to a central database for assessment, feedback and educational purposes.MethodsA feasibility study was carried out in Uganda. Images of microscopy samples were taken using a prototype connector that could fix a variety of mobile phones to a microscope. An Information Technology (IT) platform was set up for data transfer from a mobile phone to a website, including feedback by text messaging to the end user.ResultsClear images were captured using mobile phone cameras of 2 megapixels (MP) up to 5MP. Images were sent by mobile Internet to a website where they were visualized and feedback could be provided to the sender by means of text message.ConclusionThe process of capturing microscopy images on mobile phones, relaying them to a central review website and feeding back to the sender is feasible and of potential benefit in resource poor settings. Even though the system needs further optimization, it became evident from discussions with stakeholders that there is a demand for this type of technology.

Point-of-care mobile digital microscopy and deep learning for the detection of soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosoma haematobium

“…helminths or schistosomes) typically requires examination of significantly larger areas, especially with samples showing low levels of infection or when assessing infection rate. Benefits of digital microscopy compared to light microscopy include real-time data sharing for remote diagnosis and consultations to facilitate faster diagnosis [25,26], and the possibility of utilizing digital image analysis to aid in sample analysis [27]. …”

Mobile Phone Microscopy for the Diagnosis of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections: A Proof-of-Concept Study

“…microscope; however, such a contraption is unsuitable to serve as a portable point-of-care test. 10 Although helminth eggs can reliably be visualized with our mobile phone microscope, it is often a challenge to appropriately speciate the infecting organism. In addition, the mobile phone microscope detected several false-positive eggs that were likely stool artifact because of the relative lack in image quality.…”

“…In addition, the digitization of images may aid in diagnoses by enabling clinicians to transfer photos to centralized locations for diagnostic support. 10,19 Mobile phone diagnostic technology will likely contribute to the diagnosis of infections and non-infectious etiologies in resource-constrained settings. A first-generation mobile phone microscope using a ball lens had modest diagnostic yield for soil-transmitted helminth infections; however, newer technologies may further improve mobile phone diagnostic capabilities, but they require additional field testing in different epidemiologic settings.…”

Recent advances in microfluidic diagnostic and treatment systems for assisted reproductive technologies in developing countries

“…Although broadband penetration is low in developing countries, remaining below 10 % in South Africa, smartphones have penetrated approximately 40 % of these areas [15,16]. Hence, based on information and communication technologies (ICT) infrastructure conditions in developing countries, portable smartphones are the best suited terminals for combinations of diagnostics and medical instruments, such as microscopes and electrocardiograms (ECG) [17,18]. Accordingly, smartphones have been used individually and with other components or devices to monitor cardiovascular disease [17].…”

“…Microscopic POC devices using smartphones were also developed during this decade. Specifically, Tujin et al conducted a feasibility study of microscopy-based diagnostic services to find microbes in body fluid using conventional staining techniques, such as Giemsa [18]. Moreover, Wei et al demonstrated the use of fluorescence microscopic diagnostic systems with smartphones to visualize single bacteria or viruses, and developed an immunostaining method and optical system using a cell phone attachment [19].…”