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Researchers at MIT's Little Devices lab

have developed a set of modular blocks

that can be put together in different ways

to produce diagnostic devices for various functions,

such as infection detection and monitoring.

These plug-and-play devices are low cost, reliable, re-usable,

and require little expertise to assemble.

The components consist of a sheet

of paper sandwiched between a plastic or metal

block and a plastic cover.

The blocks are color-coded by function,

making it easier to assemble for various uses.

They are about half an inch on each side

and snap together in different ways.

Some of the blocks contain channels for liquid samples

to flow straight through.

Some have turns and mix multiple reagents together,

allowing the user to create diagnostics

based on one reaction or a series of reactions.

Currently, this system is being used

by scientists at other academic labs outside of MIT.

The modular predefined blocks allow the labs

to forget about developing the hardware

and focus strictly on the biochemistry.

Using this system, called ampli blocks,

the MIT team is working on devices

to detect cancer, as well as Zika virus

and other infectious diseases.

The blocks are inexpensive, and they do not

require refrigeration or special handling,

making them appealing for use in the developing world.

Paper diagnostics are usually write one, read once systems.

However, ampli blocks can be sterilized

in use for additional reactions without additional hardware

costs.

The MIT team says their long-term goal

is to enable small, low resources laboratories

to generate their own libraries of plug-and-play diagnostics

to treat their local patient populations independently.

They have already sent them to labs in Chile and Nicaragua,

where they have been used to develop devices

to monitor tuberculosis treatment

and to test for a genetic variant that makes malaria more

difficult to treat.

The team is now working on tests for human papillomavirus

and Lyme disease, among others.

Since the ultimate goal is to get the technology

into the hands of small labs globally,

the researchers are investigating large scale

manufacturing techniques and hope to launch a company soon

so they can manufacture and distribute

the kits around the world.