NTDscope: A multi-contrast portable microscope for disease diagnosis.

Area of Science:

• Medical Diagnostics
• Microscopy
• Point-of-Care Testing

Background:

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) require accurate diagnostics for control and elimination.
• Current diagnostic methods are often slow, labor-intensive, and inaccessible in endemic regions.
• There is a critical need for portable, rapid, and affordable diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the NTDscope, a novel portable microscopy platform.
• To demonstrate its capabilities for imaging and automated detection of pathogens.
• To showcase its potential for integrating diverse diagnostic modalities.

Main Methods:

• Development of the NTDscope, a portable microscopy platform integrating a system-on-module (SOM).
• Utilized brightfield, darkfield, and fluorescence microscopy for analyzing patient samples.
• Quantified molecular assays including lateral flow tests and CRISPR-Cas13a assays.

Main Results:

• The NTDscope successfully imaged microfilariae and helminth eggs.
• Demonstrated automated detection and quantification of pathogens.
• Showcased integration with molecular assays for enhanced diagnostic capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The NTDscope offers a versatile, portable solution for diagnosing NTDs at the point-of-care.
• Combining microscopy, molecular assays, and machine learning expands diagnostic access in underserved areas.
• This platform has the potential to significantly impact NTD control and elimination efforts globally.