Columbia University bioengineer designs handheld STD diagnostic equipment

Samuel Sia, a bioengineer at Columbia University in New York, recently developed a new medical device that tests individuals for blood-borne infections, including sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Using a drop of blood, the handheld diagnostic equipment provides patients with results between 12 to 15 minutes, according to Physorg.com.

Sia was inspired to create this technology after returning from a trip to South Africa in 2001,during which he lived in Togo for one month. The communities had minimal access to healthcare, and the majority of these residents were at a high risk of contracting these infections.

The mChip has been designed to contain a microchip that analyzes an individual's blood sample, which streamlines traditional testing methods used in a health center laboratory, the website reports.

Currently, Sia and his staff are working towards implementing communication software into the device that will allow those using the technology to transfer results to a patient's health records. This will help those who test positive for STDs to begin treatments and taking medication sooner.

In addition to providing international medical assistance, this technology may benefit the growing number of Americans who are at risk of contracting STDs. For instance, approximately 1.1 million people nationwide had either diagnosed or undiagnosed cases of HIV in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.