Combination of a mosquito net and a medical-diagnostic functional article and method for producing and transporting such a combination and its use

Abstract

Combination of a mosquito net and a medical-diagnostic functional article as well as a method for producing and transporting such a combination and its use Mosquito net (1) in combination with a carrier sheet (6), wherein the mosquito net (1) has a mesh fabric (5) designed as a canopy for covering a sleeping place and for protecting people from insects; wherein the carrier sheet (6) consists of a flexible material and has an edge region which is attached to the mesh fabric (5), optionally by sewing; wherein the carrier sheet (6) carries a medical-diagnostic functional article, e.g. a malaria test, which is attached by sewing; wherein the carrier sheet (6) carries a medical-diagnostic functional article, e.g. a malaria test kit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a combination of a mosquito net and a functional article attached to the mesh of the net. In particular, it is a combination according to the preamble of the independent device claim. Furthermore, it relates to a method for producing and transporting such a combination, as well as its use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Traditional mosquito nets are the most effective way to protect people from malaria. In its simplest form, a mosquito net is a mesh fabric stretched over a human-occupied space, such as a sleeping area. Their effectiveness against mosquitoes and other insects has been improved by adding insecticides to the nets. Technologies in this area have advanced so much over the past two decades that long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) can be produced that last for several years, even when washed.

[0003] In addition to technological advances, distribution channels for the nets have also improved significantly, making insecticidal bed nets widely available in rural areas, particularly in Africa. The distribution channels for bed nets were used to distribute water filters in a 2008 campaign by Vestergaard, which distributed bed nets, specifically the PermaNet® type, in Care-Pack® bags containing a LifeStraw® water filter, condoms, and educational materials to expand the fight against malaria and other vector-borne diseases to include AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Although this campaign was a success, it did not last long and did not develop into a general distribution program for other disease prevention measures.

[0004] The use of additional plastic bags for distributing items along with the mosquito nets increases material and packaging costs. Most importantly, it creates additional waste, which runs counter to the goal of reducing waste worldwide, especially plastic waste.

[0005] It would be desirable to find ways to further improve the possibilities for disease prevention and control in rural areas, for example in Africa, where medical services and infrastructure are insufficient to achieve the international goals set, for example, by the WHO for creating better health conditions worldwide, including in such rural areas. DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages faced by people in rural areas, to utilize the advantages of the prior art, and to achieve a general improvement of the prior art. In particular, it is an aim to improve the early detection and prevention of diseases in rural areas. This aim and further advantages are achieved with a method and a combination, as well as the use thereof, as described below and in the claims.

[0007] In short, mosquito nets are used as a means of distributing medical diagnostic testing items, which is useful for supporting disease control in rural areas. In particular, the following have proven useful.

[0008] When a mosquito net is transported from the production site to a final user, for example, a rural area in a remote location in Africa, the mosquito net can be used as a vehicle to deliver other items, especially functional items for diagnosing diseases, to the area. Although the mosquito net is used to prevent malaria, protection is primarily achieved at night when the person sleeps under the net. During the day and in the early morning or evening hours, when malaria-carrying mosquitoes are active, there is a significant risk of people becoming infected with malaria. Therefore, it is wise to ship malaria diagnostic test kits along with the mosquito net.

[0009] The following method is generalized not only to the malaria diagnostic test kit, but also to the transport of other types of medical diagnostic functional units, especially other diagnostic kits, including test systems for other vector-borne diseases or COVID, or sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV or syphilis. Other tests include blood glucose levels to detect diabetes or blood count tests for anemia. Pregnancy tests are also an option. Early detection and control of a pandemic is crucial for disease control.

[0010] To use the mosquito net as a vehicle to deliver such functional items to rural areas, especially functional items serving as medical diagnostic test systems, the functional item is applied to a thin, flexible carrier sheet, typically made of fabric or film, which serves as a carrier for transporting the functional item to the end user's location and which may also contain the necessary instructions for using the item as well as information for evaluating the diagnostic test results.

[0011] The carrier sheet is attached to the mesh of the net. Typically, only an edge of the carrier sheet, not the entire edge surrounding the carrier sheet, is attached to the net, e.g., by sewing, similar to the usual attachment method for an information label. The carrier sheet is thus similar to information labels, which are typically attached to the mesh by one of their edges to provide information about the net and the provider. Similar to such information labels, the carrier sheet is much smaller than the mosquito net, in particular, it is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the dimensions of the mesh itself. Overall, the carrier sheet has similar dimensions and typically a similar shape to the information labels attached to the mesh and differs from them in that it contains a functional item, e.g., a diagnostic test kit.The functional item is thus firmly attached to the net by the carrier cloth and follows the net from the manufacturer to the end user, without the risk of the functional item getting lost during transport. An additional advantage is that the functional item does not need to be packed separately from the mosquito net.

[0012] A further advantage is achieved by attaching the carrier fabric to the mesh of the mosquito net, then wrapping the mesh with the functional item around the carrier fabric. This way, the mesh acts as a cushioning, shock-absorbing layer, and forms a temperature-insulating layer around the functional item. The combination of mosquito net and carrier material with the functional item is then packaged and shipped from the production facility to the end user in secure packaging.

[0013] More specifically, the mosquito net consists of a mesh fabric, usually shaped like a canopy to cover a sleeping area and protect people from insects. Such a canopy measures approximately two or three meters in length from the top of the mosquito net to the bottom edge when hung. The support fabric is much smaller, for example, 10-30 cm long and wide.

[0014] As already mentioned, the carrier fabric that supports the functional article is made of a flexible material, typically fabric or film. It has an edge area that is connected to the mesh, possibly by sewing, but can also be glued or plastically welded to the mesh, the latter being possible with thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0015] The invention is suitable for a variety of functional articles, in particular for diagnostic kits for combating diseases, e.g. vector-borne diseases.

[0016] In some embodiments, a carrier sheet is provided that contains a flexible thermometer, for example, a flexible, printed thermometer. The thermometer is located, for example, on a removable part of the carrier sheet and is designed to be detached from a remaining part of the carrier sheet, wherein the remaining part is attached, for example, by sewing, to the mesh of the mosquito net. The detached part with the thermometer is designed to be placed on a person's skin. The thermometer includes a temperature display for displaying the body temperature measured by the thermometer by highlighting a number that indicates the temperature. The temperature is indicated, for example, by color or shading.In this context, it is noted that temperature reading is the key to many disease diagnoses and can also be used for fertility and other health-related applications.

[0017] For example, a reagent container containing a test reagent is located on the carrier sheet, which the user mixes with body fluid to perform a diagnostic test. Optionally, the user can detach the reagent container from the carrier sheet and open it for mixing, for example, inside the reagent container.

[0018] In some embodiments, mixing causes the appearance of the body fluid and reagent mixture to change depending on the test result, whether positive or negative. For example, the color or darkness of the mixture changes, indicating whether the user is receiving a positive or negative result.

[0019] In other embodiments, the body fluid stream is applied to a planar tubular assembly where the body fluid, with or without mixing with a reagent prior to application to the tubular assembly, flows through the tubular assembly and elicits reactions with a diagnostic result visible to the user, e.g., by staining possibly caused by an antigen reaction.

[0020] If the test is to determine the concentration of a specific substance in body fluid, such as blood sugar, the color change may occur gradually depending on the substance concentration. To facilitate the user's assessment of such a change, a comparison indicator may be provided, for example, printed on the backing sheet, illustrating possible colors and / or shades. This allows the user to directly compare the color or darkness of the reagent-body fluid mixture with the indicator and, through this comparison, determine the diagnostic test result.

[0021] Typically, the reference indicator, indicating the reaction of the reagent with the body fluid, is sufficiently clear for the user to interpret the result visually. However, it is also possible to increase the accuracy of the analysis by using a smartphone application that compares the test result with the reference indicator on the backing sheet. Alternatively, or additionally, the smartphone application can contain a programmed reference indicator for test evaluation and be programmed with a feedback function to display the result to the user.

[0022] In some cases, for better comparison and correct evaluation, an applicator field with a test evaluation area is provided on the backing sheet, onto which the mixture is applied and on which changes in color or transparency are compared with the comparison indicator so that the user can determine the diagnostic test result.

[0023] Optionally, the applicator pad is equipped with a reagent that provides the user with an indication when applying body fluid, whether with or without reagent from a reagent container. In this case, too, the comparison indicator on the side of the applicator pad is a great help for the user to correctly assess the test result.

[0024] In some embodiments, the carrier sheet carries a removable diagnostic test strip. The strip is configured to display a diagnostic test result after exposure to a body fluid, e.g., saliva or urine. Also in this case, it is advantageous to have a comparison indicator on the carrier sheet so that the user can evaluate the test result on the detached strip by comparing it with the comparison indicator on the carrier sheet, with the strip and carrier sheet positioned side by side.

[0025] To resemble a carrier cloth, only the edge region of the flexible carrier cloth is attached to the mesh fabric, e.g., by sewing, with the edge region being shorter than the entire edge around the circumference of the carrier. In some embodiments, it is advantageous for the carrier cloth to be removable from the mesh fabric. For this purpose, a separation line is provided, e.g., by a perforation in the sheet material of the carrier cloth, e.g., parallel along the attached edge portion of the carrier cloth.

[0026] The invention is particularly suitable for diagnostic kits for disease control. In some advanced diagnostic embodiments, the carrier sheet comprises electronics for diagnostic use. The electronics comprise, for example, sensors for analyzing body fluids, possibly after mixing with reagents, in particular analytical reagents. The electronics comprise, for example, pH detectors and / or conductivity detectors that indicate ion concentrations. Alternatively, the diagnostic detector may also comprise microarrays of light detectors or even a camera to measure the density, transmittance, or color of the body fluid, possibly mixed with reagents. The electronics can provide the user with feedback on the measurement results.To power the electronics, a flat battery can be worn on the carrier sheet, and optionally a flexible photovoltaic cell can be worn to power the electronics on the carrier sheet, and such an optional battery for use in medical diagnostics.

[0027] In such a case, it is advantageous if the carrier cloth with the electronics located thereon, e.g. printed on the material of the carrier cloth, is detachable from the mesh fabric, e.g. by tearing along a perforated separation line, in order to separate a functional part of the carrier cloth from a remaining part that remains attached to the mesh fabric.

[0028] Regarding electronics, it is noted that recent electronic development has made great strides in electronics with thin, flat and flexible features, even in screens and push buttons for easy communication.

[0029] In some useful embodiments, the electronics include a speaker for instructions and feedback, which is useful for communicating with illiterate, blind, or otherwise visually impaired people.

[0030] In some embodiments, the subject matter is a microfluidic biosensor system for measuring physiological conditions based on body fluids. Diagnostic results are typically displayed visually, possibly including electronic components.

[0031] In some embodiments, the article is a wound dressing with built-in electronics that monitors the condition of the wound during wound healing and may transmit the information to a smartphone for further evaluation of the wound condition.

[0032] In some embodiments, a smartphone with a corresponding application, also called an APP, programmed into the smartphone's computer is used as an option for the precise evaluation of color changes or intensity fluctuations for diagnostic tests. Optionally, the data can also be exchanged wirelessly via an internet cloud system. For evaluation, the field of view of the smartphone's built-in camera is directed toward the test evaluation area, and the captured image is evaluated, either by the app itself or by transmitting the captured image via the internet and an appropriately programmed server system.

[0033] Optionally, the carrier cloth includes at least one of the following elements: - Medicines for malaria or other diseases, including diarrhoeal diseases, possibly also antibiotics; - Skin medicines, e.g. skin cream or medicated ointment; - Food supplements, such as vitamins and minerals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a mosquito net with a carrier cloth attached to it; Fig. 2 shows a removable carrier cloth with a thermometer; Fig. 3 shows a non-removable carrier sheet with a removable test strip; Fig. 4 shows a carrier sheet with a test kit containing a reagent and a swab; Fig. 5 shows a carrier sheet with a point-of-use test kit and a reagent; Fig. 6 shows a carrier sheet with a blood test kit containing one or more reagents; Fig. 7 shows smartphone support for test kit evaluation; Fig. 8 shows a carrier cloth with a time-lapse indicator; Fig. 9 shows a carrier cloth with a photovoltaic cell and an electronic circuit; Fig. 10 shows the electronics on the carrier cloth for test analysis. DETAILED DESCRIPTION / PREFERRED VERSION

[0034] Fig. Figure 1 shows a mosquito net 1. The mosquito net 1 has a roof 2 and side walls 3, which in the embodiment shown comprise an upper part 4A and a lower part 4B of the side walls 3. Such side walls 3 with a lower part 4B made of a more resistant material than the upper part 4A can be found in the insecticidal mosquito net bearing the trademark PermaNet 3.0®, but this is not required for the invention, since the side walls 3 can also be made of one type of material.

[0035] Attached to the mesh fabric of the mosquito net 1, typically by sewing, are similar carrier sheets 6, which, in addition to the labels 6' attached to the mesh fabric 5 of the mosquito net 1, are intended as a standard for providing the user with information about the net and the manufacturer. As will become clearer below, the standard principle of the labels 6' on mosquito nets 1 also applies to the attachment of carrier sheets 6 to the mesh fabric 5 for distributing functional items together with the mosquito net 1. The latter brings with it a number of significant advantages, which are explained in more detail below.

[0036] Typically, such carrier sheets 6 are attached with one of their edges to the lower edge 1A of the mosquito net 1. Alternatively to attaching the carrier sheets 6 to the mesh fabric 5 of the mosquito net 1, the carrier sheets 6 can be attached with their edge to another part of the mosquito net 1, for example by sewing them into the seam 1B between the upper part 4A and the lower part 4B of the side walls 3, which is also Fig. 1 is shown.

[0037] Some types of backing sheets 6 are indetachably bonded to the mesh fabric 5 and are intended to remain on the mesh fabric 5, which means that removing the backing sheet 6 by peeling or tearing it off from the mesh fabric 5 would also damage the mesh fabric 5. It should be noted that cutting, e.g., with scissors, would be one method to remove part of the backing sheets 6 from the mesh fabric 5, but the sewn part of the backing sheets 6 would remain on the mesh fabric 5, and the backing sheet 6 is not considered removable in the above sense.

[0038] Notwithstanding the above, some carrier cloths 6 comprise parts that are detachable from the mesh fabric 5 and are intended to be removed for use. Such carrier cloths 6 are provided with a separation line 7, typically a perforated line, which is Fig. 1 is indicated by a hatched line, from which part of the carrier cloths 6 is removed from the mesh fabric 5.

[0039] As will be explained in more detail below, various types of medical diagnostic functional items can be carried by such carrier sheets 6.

[0040] The use of carrier sheets 6, which are sized and handled similarly to conventional information labels, is advantageous in that the technology for handling such carrier sheets and attaching them to the mesh fabric is similar to that of standard information labels, so that the carrier sheets with the functional elements according to the invention can be easily implemented without changing the traditional, streamlined production process for mosquito nets, with little additional effort and cost. This latter aspect is an important aspect, since the low prices for mosquito nets 1 must be maintained.

[0041] Fig. Figure 2 shows a carrier sheet 6 carrying a thin thermometer 8, e.g., a printed thermometer. The carrier sheet 6, as the thermometer carrier, is attached to the mesh fabric 5, typically by sewing, and the thermometer part can be separated from the mesh fabric 5 by a separation line 7, e.g., a perforation, as indicated by the hatched separation line 7. Once detached, the thermometer 8 can be placed on a person's skin, and the thermometer 8 displays the skin temperature. The thermometer 8 is provided, for example, with a series of numbers, which in the present example illustration ranges from 35°C to 42°C, i.e., on either side of the normal body temperature of 37°C. The measured temperature is indicated by highlighting the respective temperature number, for example, by color, intensity, or by a highlighted frame 9 or area around the respective number. One option is the use of thermochromic material.

[0042] Fig. Figure 3 shows a carrier sheet 6 in which a carrier sheet portion 6A carries a test strip 10 for a diagnostic test, e.g., a urine test, or a saliva or blood test. The test strip 10 is removable from the carrier sheet 6, for example, by detaching a first carrier sheet portion 6A from a second, remaining carrier sheet portion 6B, as shown, with the second carrier sheet portion 6B remaining attached to the mesh fabric 5. After performing the test with the test strip 10, e.g., by applying urine, the user can check the result by comparing it with a test result comparison indicator 15 for the different result options A, B, C, or D, indicating, for example, a positive test result in two variants, or a negative test, or an invalid test result. Although the carrier sheet 6 shown shows only a single test strip 10, it can carry multiple removable test strips.

[0043] Fig. Figure 4 shows a carrier sheet 6 carrying a reagent container 11 containing a reagent 12. The carrier sheet 6 may additionally carry a cotton swab 13, which may be encapsulated in plastic for hygienic reasons but is not shown here. Using the cotton swab 13, for example, a swab is taken from the user's nose or throat and dipped into the reagent 12, which changes its appearance, e.g., its color, depending on a chemical reaction with the secretion from the nose or throat. Following this, the final mixture of secretion and reagent 12 is applied to the applicator pad 14, from which the user can derive a test result by comparing it with a color or intensity scale 15, possibly supported by a fill level indicator 16.For hygienic reasons and to keep the applicator field 14 usable and free from contamination, it is normally covered with a sealed plastic film that must be removed to access the applicator field 14. For illustrative purposes, the cover is not shown here. Optionally, the reference applicator field 14 contains an additional reagent to clarify the test result.

[0044] Fig. Figure 5 shows a reagent container 11 containing reagent 12 for a body fluid test, as well as a point-of-use test kit 17 supported by the carrier sheet 6 and easily removable from the carrier sheet 6. For hygiene reasons and to keep the test kit usable, it will normally be contained in a sealed plastic bag that must be broken to release the test kit from the carrier sheet 6. For illustrative purposes, the sealed bag is not shown here. The user must, for example, drop blood into the reagent container 11 and mix it with the reagent 12, after which the mixture is applied to the test kit 17, which then indicates in its result window 18 whether the test is positive for malaria. It should be noted that similar test kits can be provided for the detection of COVID for use with nasal or throat secretions, or for the detection of sexually transmitted diseases from urine.

[0045] Fig. 6 shows a carrier sheet 6 provided with visual information 31 to enable the user to apply a drop of blood from the finger to the test reading area 30, whereupon reagent from one or more reagent containers 11 is added, resulting in some type of reaction visible in the test reading area 30.

[0046] Alternatively, the reagent is already present on the test reading area and only body fluid needs to be added, typically after removing a cover foil over the test reading area.

[0047] Fig. Figure 7 shows a possibility for the precise evaluation of color changes or intensity fluctuations in diagnostic tests, namely by means of a smartphone 22 with a corresponding application, also called an APP, which is programmed into the computer of the smartphone 22. Optionally, the data are exchanged via wireless communication 23 via an Internet cloud system 24. For the evaluation, the field of view 25 of the built-in camera 26 is directed onto the test evaluation area 30, for example onto the carrier cloth 6 of Fig. 6, directed.

[0048] Fig. 8 shows a time indicator 27 on the carrier sheet 6, which indicates a certain time lapse, for example, relating to the estimated lifespan of the insecticide on the mesh fabric 5 or the lifespan of the diagnostic kit supplied with the mosquito net 1. The time indicator 27 changes its color or color intensity over time, making it clearly visible and easy to interpret for the user.

[0049] Fig. 9 shows a carrier sheet 6 with flexible electronics, e.g., a printed electronic circuit 29 and optionally a photovoltaic cell 28 for powering the electronic circuit 29. Optionally, it can also carry a flexible battery. The electronics are, for example, printed on a flexible substrate bonded to the flexible carrier sheet 6 or directly onto a flexible carrier sheet material, such as a plastic film, which may be fiber-reinforced for stability. To use the photovoltaic cell 28 separately from the mosquito net 1, the corresponding part of the carrier sheet 6 can be made detachable from the mesh fabric 5 with a detachment line 7.

[0050] The electronic circuit 29 on the carrier cloth 6 is advantageously used for medical diagnosis, an example of which is shown in Fig.10, which is a cross-sectional view of an electronic circuit 29 used for diagnostic test analysis. The electronic circuit 29 is electronically connected to a visual detector 33, e.g., a single photodiode for color detection. Alternatively, the visual detector 33 consists of an array of photodiodes, e.g., in the form of a microcamera, optionally including a lens for spatial resolution. The visual detector 33 is configured to detect visual appearances of a test sample 34 of body fluid that has been applied to a test evaluation area 30 on a coversheet 32, typically after mixing with reagent. The detection signal of the visual detector 33 is transmitted to the electronic circuit 29. The electronic circuit 29 is advantageously programmed to perform an evaluation of the signal of the visual detector 33. This may, e.g.,the evaluation of color changes caused by a reagent or color intensities or the evaluation of the darkness and / or reflectivity of the test sample.

[0051] To facilitate the evaluation of the test sample 34, a light emitter 35, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED), can optionally be provided. This emits light with a test-specific wavelength, which is then detected by the visual detector 33 after illuminating the test sample 34. Such a method also enables fluorescence measurements of the test sample 34.

[0052] An alternative or additional option is to provide a probe 36 for measuring physical and / or chemical properties of the body fluid 34 in the diagnostic test area 30. For example, the probe 36 is used to measure conductivity. Advantageously, the system consists of a combination of a visual detector 33 and probe 36.

[0053] Optionally, the electronic circuit 29 is connected to an optical display 37, e.g. a multi-colored diode, to provide feedback to the user.

[0054] Optionally, a push button 38 is provided with which the user can switch on the electronic circuit 29 for the test and for any further communication of the user with the electronic circuit 29.

[0055] All of the carrier cloths 6 described above are made of flexible materials to prevent them from breaking out of the mesh fabric 5.

Claims

[1] Mosquito net (1) in combination with a carrier cloth (6), wherein the mosquito net (1) comprises a mesh fabric (5) which is designed as a canopy for covering a sleeping place and protecting people from insects, wherein the carrier cloth (6) consists of a flexible cloth material, e.g. fabric or foil, and has an area, e.g. an edge area, which is attached, e.g. sewn, to the mesh fabric (5), characterized by that the carrier cloth (6) carries a functional article, wherein the functional article is a medical-diagnostic functional article for a diagnostic test and is configured to display a medical diagnostic test result by the diagnostic test. [2] The combination according to claim 1, wherein the carrier sheet (6) carries a reagent (12) for the diagnostic test when the reagent (12) is mixed with body fluid of a human, and wherein the carrier sheet (6) has on its surface an applicator field (14) for providing and evaluating the mixture of body fluid and reagent of the diagnostic test and is configured to provide a visible test result after providing the body fluid mixed with the reagent on the applicator field (14). [3] The combination according to claim 2, wherein the carrier sheet (6) has a comparison indicator (15) having a different color or shade as indicators for different results of the diagnostic test, so that the user can compare the color or darkness of the mixture of reagent and body fluid with the color or shade of the comparison indicator (15) and determine the test result of the diagnostic test based on the color or darkness of the mixture by comparison with the comparison indicator (15). [4] A combination according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the reagent (12) is contained in a reagent container (11) for mixing with body fluid prior to applying the body fluid to the applicator pad (14) together with the reagent. [5] Combination according to claim 2 or 3, characterized bythat the carrier sheet (6) carries a peelable test strip (10) which carries the reagent (12) and is designed to display a result of the diagnostic test after contact with body fluid, e.g. urine, wherein the carrier sheet (6) has a comparison indicator (15) with indicators for different results of the diagnostic test as an aid to the user in evaluating the test result on the test strip (10) by comparison with the comparison indicator (15). [6] Combination according to one of the preceding claims 2 or 3, wherein the functional article comprises an electronic circuit (29) and a visual detector (33) which is electronically connected to the electronic circuit (29), wherein the visual detector (33) is provided on the applicator field (14) to detect the color or darkness of the mixture of reagent and body fluid and to transmit a corresponding electronic signal to the electronic circuit (29), and wherein the electronic circuit (29) is programmed to evaluate the received electronic signal and, based on the evaluation, to provide the user with a test result as feedback for the test. [7] Combination according to claim 6, wherein the electronic circuit comprises an optical display (37) for feedback of the test result to the user. [8] Combination according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the functional element on the carrier cloth (6) comprises a flexible photovoltaic cell (28) for supplying power to the electronic circuit (29). [9] The combination according to claim 1, wherein the functional article is a flexible thermometer (8) provided on the carrier sheet (6) and configured to be removed and placed on the skin of a person, the thermometer (8) comprising a temperature display (9) for displaying the body temperature measured by the thermometer (8). [10] A combination according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier cloth (6) has a border around its periphery and only a part of the border which is shorter than the border around the periphery is attached to the mesh fabric. [11] Combination according to claim 10, wherein the part of the edge is connected to the mesh fabric (5) by sewing. [12] Combination according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a portion (6A) of the carrier cloth (6) is removable from the mesh fabric (5) by detaching it along a separation line (7). [13] Combination according to claim 12, wherein the separation line (7) has a perforation to facilitate separation. [14] A method for producing and transporting a combination according to any one of claims 1-13 from a production site to a final user site, the method comprising providing the functional article on a flexible carrier sheet (6) made of fabric or film and attaching only an edge region of the carrier sheet (6), but not the entire edge surrounding the carrier sheet (6), to the mesh fabric (5) of the mosquito net (1) to form a carrier sheet (6) on the mesh fabric (5); wherein the carrier sheet (6) has dimensions that are at least one order of magnitude smaller than the dimensions of the mesh fabric (5);the method comprising wrapping the mesh fabric (5) around the carrier cloth (6) and the functional article after attaching the carrier cloth (6) with the functional article to the mesh fabric (5) so that the mesh fabric (5) forms a shock-absorbing and temperature-regulating layer around the functional article, and packaging and shipping the combination of mosquito net and carrier cloth with the functional article in the wrapped configuration from the production site to the end user location; [15] The method of claim 14, wherein the functional item is a diagnostic item configured to diagnose a disease. [16] The method of claim 15, wherein the functional article is a diagnostic test kit comprising a reagent configured to be mixed with a body fluid to provide an indication of a disease. [17] Use of a combination according to any one of claims 1-13 or a method according to any one of claims 14-16 for providing a diagnostic malaria test kit to an end user.

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