Colorimetric Pathogen Test Reading Using Wavelength Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for infectious diseases, especially at point-of-care (POC) settings, face challenges due to complexity in use and interpretation, low sensitivity, and errors in test results, including false negatives and positives, clinician/user errors, and equipment malfunctions, which hinder timely and accurate disease detection.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a sensor to detect a spectrum of color wavelengths from a pathogen test on a solid phase substrate, with processors determining a wavelength threshold and generating a result indicator, and optionally adjusting the threshold based on material group identifiers, to provide accurate and confident pathogen test results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rapid diagnostic tests are made simpler for point-of-care use, then ease of operation improves, but measurement precision deteriorates due to increased error rates
Solution Approach 1:
A smartphone application serves as an intermediary between the simple rapid test and the user, capturing an image of the test result and using image processing algorithms to objectively analyze and interpret the results, eliminating user interpretation errors while maintaining ease of use
Solution Approach 2:
The manual visual interpretation mechanism is replaced with automated digital image processing and analysis, substituting human judgment with algorithmic analysis to improve measurement precision without complicating the physical test procedure
2Speed
If rapid diagnostic tests are used for faster results, then speed improves, but reliability deteriorates due to false positives and negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures multiple images of the test result at different time points and uses image processing to track changes in the test pattern over time, providing feedback that helps distinguish true positive results from false positives and improves overall reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary image capture and analysis immediately after test completion, and can perform follow-up analysis at later time points, allowing for early detection while maintaining reliability through temporal verification
3Device complexity
If manual interpretation of test results is used, then device complexity remains low, but loss of information increases due to user errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a digital copy of the test result through smartphone imaging, preserving the exact visual information without loss, and allows for repeated analysis of the same image data without additional user interpretation errors
Solution Approach 2:
Human visual interpretation is replaced with automated computer vision algorithms that objectively analyze the test image, eliminating user fatigue, training variability, and interpretation inconsistencies while adding minimal complexity through a smartphone application
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Minimizes testing equipment errors and clinician/user interpretation errors, providing timely and accurate pathogen test results with enhanced confidence levels, suitable for POC settings.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor to detect a spectrum of color wavelengths from a pathogen test on a solid phase substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A technology is described for a system for identifying a colorimetric test result from a pathogen test performed on a solid phase substrate. The system can comprise a sensor configured to detect a spectrum of color wavelengths. The system can comprise one or more processors. The one or more processors can be configured to: receive color wavelength data; determine a wavelength threshold for providing a pathogen positive test result; identify whether the color wavelength data meets or exceeds the wavelength threshold for providing a pathogen positive test result; and generate a result indicator indicating either a pathogen positive or pathogen negative test result.