UWC scientists create low-cost cancer and TB test

SCIENTISTS at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have developed a low-cost, highly sensitive, rapid screening test that could significantly improve the early detection of cancer, tuberculosis, and long Covid-19 - all considered as major public health challenges in South Africa.

- STAFF REPORTER

Developed at UWC's SensorLab, the new rapid electrochemical sensor promises faster and more affordable screening, offering hope for earlier diagnosis, improved patient outcomes, and reduced pressure on the country's already strained healthcare system.

In the latest study published in the international journal Bioelectro-chemistry, researchers from UWC and the University of Ghent in Belgium report that the device can detect even hidden Covid-19 infections by identifying extremely small amounts of the virus's spike protein in blood samples.

The sensor was able to pick up concentrations as low as 0.04 picograms per millilitre - a level far below the detection limits of many existing diagnostic tools. The presence of these proteins in the blood signals hidden infections is a warning signal of these hidden infections.