A New Zealand-made portable device could be the breakthrough health workers need in the global fight against Ebola. <\/p>\n
Freedom 4 can do on-the-spot DNA tests for bacteria and viruses, without the need for samples to be taken back to a lab. <\/p>\n
\"The great advance is that this takes the laboratory to the patient, so instead of the specimen having to go off and you may have to wait a few days for a result, this means you could get a result within an hour,\" says Michael Baker of Otago University's Department of Public Health. <\/p>\n
Dr Baker says researchers have been working on a prototype of the device for more than six years, and that it will most likely be ready for use next year. <\/p>\n
\"It needs to go through a lot of testing to make sure it's accurate, and there are a few technical issues to work through.\" <\/p>\n
He says the technology could be a game-changer. <\/p>\n
\"Going into the future, this is the kind of technology that could really make a difference for testing for a lot of things - particularly in countries that have very poor resources. <\/p>\n
\"This really is a revolution for testing in that situation\". <\/p>\n
Watch the video to see the full interview with Dr Baker. <\/p>\n
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Freedom 4 a 'revolution' for medical testing<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A New Zealand-made portable device could be the breakthrough health workers need in the global fight against Ebola. Freedom 4 can do on-the-spot DNA tests for bacteria and viruses, without the need for samples to be taken back to a lab. Continue reading