A new portable device and accompanying app can detect gonorrhoea in less than 15 minutes and determine if an infection will respond to frontline antibiotics, scientists in the US reveal. Gonorrhoea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae – and can lead to infertility in men and women if untreated. The researchers hope PROMPT will deliver results for people while they are still in the clinic. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests involve a patient swabbing their nose and throat and can take up to three days to get results. The device transfers the magnetized particles to reagents in the cartridge, which runs through 40 cycles of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing before displaying the results on the app.

Source: Daily Mail May 12, 2021 18:01 UTC