New tech using body fluids to make accurate diagnosis of arthritis in just 10 minutes

A team of Korean researchers has developed a new technology that uses body fluids to make accurate diagnoses of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in just 10 minutes.

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Studies show that more than 50 per cent of the population aged 65 and older experience symptoms of osteoarthritis, while rheumatoid arthritis is known to be a serious chronic disease that affects approximately 1 in 100 people throughout their lifetime.

Although osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may appear similar, they differ in both their causes and treatments, making accurate differentiation at the early diagnosis stage critically important. Until now, diagnosis has relied on X-rays, MRI scans, and blood tests, which are time-consuming, costly, and limited in accuracy.

Researchers from the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), in collaboration with Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital focussed on synovial fluid, found in the human joints.