Paper Centrifuge offers Live-Saving Alternative

Jan-13-17 An inexpensive and hand powered paper-based centrifuge could help developing nations detect diseases such as malaria and HIV.

Developed by a Stanford team lead by Manu Prakash—who has created several other inexpensive versions of lab equipment—the centrifuge is made from paper, string and plastic, and is the result of careful and detailed study. The prototype version can reach rotational speeds of up to 125,000 rpm—comparable to centrifuges that cost up to $5000.

In tests, the team’s ‘paperfuge’ was able to separate malaria parasites from red blood cells in fifteen minutes.

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[POPSCI.COM]
[NEWS.STANFORD.EDU]

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