Guwahati, August 01: The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a 3D printed cost-effective device to detect specific bacteria that cause urinary tract infection (UTI). It is a fast, accurate, and reliable device that can measure and identify the type of bacteria in a UTI suspected patient.

All you need to know about this device-

Price of the 3D device

The estimated cost of manufacturing this device is Rs 608, while testing a single sample will cost Rs 8 only, the institute said in a statement.

It is cost-effective and can also be used by people in rural areas, where most UTI cases remain undetected due to lack of adequate testing facilities.

How long does this device take to detect ?

This  device can measure and identify the type of bacteria in a UTI suspected patient in 5 minutes while other testing uses urine culture that requires a few days.

Here is what  Dr. Partho Sarathi Gooh Pattader, Associate Professor of IIT Guwahati said-

While explaining the significance of their Research, Dr. Partho Sarathi Gooh Pattader, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Guwahati said, “Early-stage detection of UTI is important to provide timely treatment. The Point-Of-Care Testing (POCT) prototype developed at IIT Guwahati is a photodetector that detects and quantifies a specific UTI-causing bacteria called ‘Klebsiella pneumoniae’ within five minutes from a patient’s urine sample. The detection of ‘Klebsiella pneumoniae’ is important not only because this bacteria is responsible for UTI, but also for pneumonia and for the infection of soft tissue”

Elaborating on the mechanism, Dr Pattader further said, “We have used gold nanoparticles with specifically-engineered aptamers. An aptamer is like a 3D puzzle piece that fits only on the surface of a particular bacteria. The gold nanoparticles thus get agglomerated on the surface of the target bacteria giving out a unique signature that can be detected by a UV- Visible Spectrophotometer. ”

What is UTI?

UTI is a common health issue worldwide, including in India. It is prevalent in females, especially during pregnancy, and is caused by various bacteria.

Symptoms of UTI

-Burning or pain while urinating

-Strong urge to urinate regularly,

-Urinating quite often, and passing small amounts of urine,

-Strong and smelling urine.

Also read: EXPLAINED: What is NEP 2020, All You Need To Know About It’s Salient Features?

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