Researchers at Insilixa, a healthcare startup based in Sunnyvale, Calif., created a biochip that is able to complete microbial scans in two hours without the need for cultures, according to Science.
Samples, whether collected through a cheek swab or blood draw, are loaded on the chip where the part of device reads five separate chemical procedures and isolates genetic material. Researchers have isolated mutations that generate antibiotic resistance.
With further development, researchers expect to be able to scan up to 100 microbes at the same time. Insilixa is hoping to create a platform with this technology to enable physicians all over the world to create custom chips, which will scan for the most common microbes in their area.
More articles on health infromation technology:
Sutter Health, U of Utah School of Medicine execs to chair ONC's interoperability task force
How EHR data can inform better treatments: 5 things to know
Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center outsources IT support