Getting tested for HIV used to mean a scary doctor’s visit, samples of blood, and sometimes weeks of anxiety as you awaited the results. Now, those days could be done.
Introducing mChip, a new device capable of revolutionizing the STD testing procedure and cutting the wait time down to mere minutes. mChip takes one drop of blood onto a microfluidics-based optical chip. Then in an unbelievable 15 minutes, the credit card-sized device confirms whether or not you have syphilis and/or HIV. Surprisingly, the high tech gadget is practically foolproof, since reading the results don’t require human interpretation. And it’s cheap — only $1.
Researchers at Columbia University say the mChip has a 100% detection rate, although there’s a 4 to 6% chance of getting a false positive, which is comparable to standard lab tests.
Scientists and health experts are hopeful that the inexpensive mChip will help testing efforts in places like Africa to detect HIV before it turns into AIDS. And the obvious benefits of the mChip throughout the world for just about anyone are certainly inspiring.
Speaking as a Black-American female…the most infected AND affected group between ages 25 and 55 for at least the past decade…I welcome this news! Now. Whether most Black-American females (AND males for that matter) who are sexually-active will take advantage of this device???…is another hurdle altogether.It seems the Black-American community has got more "TABOO" issues than a few and quite frankly those critical issues are KILLING us, as individuals and as a people. I'm a Forensic Behavioral Specialist. Don't even get me started on trying to educate My people on Mental Health and Mental Illness.Also: I develop psychosocial programs for Sickle Cell Disease organizations.Sickle Cell Disease isn't called the "forgotten disease" in the Black community for nothing. Babies continue to be born with SCD (an excruciatingly painful genetic blood disease) despite a simple blood test available to ANYONE wanting to know their own status (are you a SC trait carrier?) BEFORE you become pregnant OR (if male) impregnate someone.But… Read more »