A New "Medical Lab On a Chip" For Every Home? (Slashdot)

[Drew Wilson]

NWU professor Chad Mirkin discusses his company's new 'lab-on-a-chip' technology — the ability to automatically treat a blood sample with chemicals on a microchip, quickly detecting markers for diseases and other anomalies. The quick 'bio-barcode' test creates the possibility of a medical diagnostic system in every home, since it offers greater sensitivity than current tests with simpler instruments and at lower costs. This is not a futuristic technology; four tests already have received FDA clearances, so 'They're here... It's in hospitals around the country. Really, what we are waiting for is just an increasing menu [of tests]... It will scale rapidly.'

More... (http://science.slashdot.org/story/10/04/10/1557228/A-New-Medical-Lab-On-a-Chip-For-Every-Home)

Sounds exciting.

[mountain_rage]

Its a hypochondriacs dream product, but at the same time I can see a lot of people testing themselves at home because their doctor doesn't think its necessary.

[HelenaP]

Not just no, but Hell Nooooo.

We should be back to the good ole days of the Inquisition any time now.

I'm going to go watch The Pit and the Pendulum. At least I know how that turns out...