3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / Medical / Researchers Develop 3D Printed Field Test Kit to Combat Disease
qidi

Researchers Develop 3D Printed Field Test Kit to Combat Disease

July 9, 2018

Underdeveloped regions often become grounds for the proliferation of diseases. While it’s hard enough to treat diseases with limited resources, it can be just as tough to simply detect them. In an effort to identify one particular virulent disease, researchers from South Australia, Texas and Ethiopia are using 3D printing technology to locate deadly parasites. As a result, they’ve come up with a field test kit that allows doctors to diagnose and treat it before it becomes deadly.

The disease in question is leishmaniasis. The WHO estimates that it causes nearly 1 million new cases and 30,000 deaths every year. Luckily, it is curable if doctors can detect it early but there are difficulties in testing it. Particularly, one problem was that of storage, as it requires a costly testing medium. The test tubes for keeping reagent are extremely fragile and getting microscopes on hands to see the samples is tough. It can even take a whole week to get the results out.

Healthcare Project 3D Printing Kenya Kiljenza
Related Story
Penn State Brings Kiljenzi 3D Printed Healthcare Project to Kenya

To remedy this problem, Dr. Gardisa created a prototype test tube that required less reagent. The new test tube needed 10 microliters as opposed to the original 25 millilitres. It could even provide results in about 3 days. However, producing the test tube in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia proved difficult. This is when Andrew Nerlinger, director of PandemicTech in Austin, stepped in.

Combatting Disease

3D Printed Field Test Kit

Nerlinger then introduced the problem to Matt Salier, director of Flinders University’s Startup Company Institute in South Australia. With the aid of Raphael Garcia from the New Venture Institute in South Australia, the crew began working on the prototype. Using the Stratasys Objet Connex 3D printer, it took less than four months to get the part done.

The finished package cost a total of 5,000 Australian dollars. As seen in the image above, the print consisted of three primary parts: a primary body that can contain the fluid, a cork on the top to plug the culture tube along with a bottom plug that is removable for cleaning. Further designs improved the clarity to make it better for microscope inspections. Accordingly, it comes with a package loaded with multiple types microscopes for on-field inspection.

The new field test kit makes inspection and diagnosis far faster. It has the potential to save lives and cure diseases before they cause exorbitant harm. It’s also a great example of how a worldwide collaboration can solve problems in a matter of months. The medical benefits of the kit will surely make life easier for many Ethiopians, among others around the world.

functional 3d prints
Related Story
Examples of Functional 3D Prints

Featured image courtesy of Flinders University.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Researchers at the University of Cambridge's Center for Industrial Photonics have developed a new additive manufacturing technique called laser-assisted cold spray (LACS). The... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Laser-Assisted Cold Spray Technology Enhances Material Deposition Process

Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

Titomic Limited, an Australian company specializing in cold spray additive manufacturing, has received €800,000 in funding from the Netherlands' 3D Print Kompas program.... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Titomic Netherlands Secures Strategic Funding to Advance Cold Spray 3D Printing Technology

3D-Printed Insects Help Scientists Map the Limits of Mimicry in Nature

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a method to 3D print life-sized, color-accurate insect models for biological research. The team, led... read more »

Environmental

University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are working to combine 3D-printed respiratory tissue with lab-grown organoids to create functional airways for... read more »

Bioprinting
University of Hong Kong Scientists Explore Growing Organs with 3D Printing Technology

SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-sumer Flexibility

SHINING 3D has launched its newest flagship 3D scanner, the EinScan Rigil — touted as the world’s first 3D scanner featuring Tri-Mode operation... read more »

News
SHINING 3D Unveils EinScan Rigil with Tri-Mode Scanning for Pro-Level Flexibility

ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

ETH Zurich students have completed a 3D-printed ice cream shop in the Swiss Alpine village of Mulegns. The project, called Gelateria, was designed... read more »

Construction
ETH Zurich 3D Prints Recycled Plastic Structure for Swiss Ice Cream Shop

Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

Hugo, the younger brand under Hugo Boss, has partnered with 3D printing company Zellerfeld to create a fully 3D-printed loafer. The shoe is... read more »

Fashion
Hugo Launches 3D Printed Loafers with Zellerfeld

3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a 3D printing method that can create objects with both soft and hard... read more »

News
3D Printed Resin Combines Rubber Flexibility with Plastic Strength, Surprising Scientists

LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Students at Queen's University Belfast have developed what they describe as Ireland's first student-built liquid rocket engine. The Kelvin Mk.1, named after Belfast-born... read more »

3D Printing Metal
LPE Supports Queen’s Propulsion Laboratory with 3D Printed Rocket Engine Chamber

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing