S. African, S. Korean research team developing smartphone HIV testing device, application

Researchers from South Africa and South Korea are developing a smartphone-based device and application able to "photograph and analyze blood samples in areas far from laboratories to diagnose HIV and even measure the health of [patients'] immune systems," Agence France-Presse reports. The device, called Smartscope, is a small microscope that clips over a phone's camera and holds a standard chip with a blood sample, the news service notes, adding the camera then photographs the sample and the application analyzes the photo to produce a CD4 cell count. "The team hopes that trials in clinics may start next year," according to AFP (8/31).