ScienceDaily (June 3, 2010) — Scientists are reporting development of the first "dipstick" test for instantly determining a person's blood type at a cost of just a few pennies.
Their study on the test, which involves placing a drop of blood on a specially treated paper strip, appears in ACS' journal Analytical Chemistry, where the authors say it could be a boon to health care in developing countries. The test also could be useful in veterinary medicine, for typing animals' blood in the field, they note.
Gil Garnier and colleagues explain that determining a patient's blood type is critical for successful blood transfusions, which save millions of lives each year worldwide. There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Use of the wrong blood type in a patient can be fatal. Current methods for determining blood type require the use of sophisticated instruments that are not available in many poor parts of the world. An inexpensive portable test could solve that problem.
The scientists describe development of prototype paper test strips impregnated with antibodies to the antigens on red blood cells that determine blood type. In lab tests using blood samples from human volunteers, the scientists showed that a drop of blood placed on the strip caused a color change that indicated blood type. The results were as accurate as conventional blood typing. "The paper diagnostics manufacturing cost is a few pennies per test and can promote health in developing countries," the report notes.
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by American Chemical Society.
Journal Reference:
Mohidus Samad Khan, George Thouas, Wei Shen, Gordon Whyte, Gil Garnier. Paper Diagnostic for Instantaneous Blood Typing.
Analytical Chemistry, 2010; 82 (10): 4158 DOI: 10.1021/ac100341n
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Caffeine Doesn't Make You More Alert
"Association of the Anxiogenic and Alerting Effects of Caffeine with ADORA2A and ADORA1 Polymorphisms and Habitual Level of Caffeine Consumption."Peter J Rogers, Christa Hohoff, Susan V Heatherley, Emma L Mullings, Peter J Maxfield, Richard P Evershed, Jürgen Deckert and David J Nutt.Neuropsychopharmacology advance online publication, June 2, 2010.DOI:10.1038/npp.2010.71Source: Bristol University.Written by: Catharine Paddock, PhD Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
A UK-led study suggests the notion that caffeine makes us more alert is more imagined than real and that frequent coffee drinkers develop a tolerance to both its stimulatory and anxiety-producing effects.
You can read about the study led by researchers at Bristol University in the 2 June advanced online issue of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
While frequent coffee drinkers may feel alerted by coffee, the study suggests this is just a sign of reversing the fatigue effect of caffeine withdrawal, and given that caffeine also increases anxiety and blood pressure, there is no net advantage.
Co-lead author Dr Peter Rogers, of the Department of Experimental Psychology at Bristol told the media that:
Access FULL-TEXT article
A UK-led study suggests the notion that caffeine makes us more alert is more imagined than real and that frequent coffee drinkers develop a tolerance to both its stimulatory and anxiety-producing effects.
You can read about the study led by researchers at Bristol University in the 2 June advanced online issue of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
While frequent coffee drinkers may feel alerted by coffee, the study suggests this is just a sign of reversing the fatigue effect of caffeine withdrawal, and given that caffeine also increases anxiety and blood pressure, there is no net advantage.
Co-lead author Dr Peter Rogers, of the Department of Experimental Psychology at Bristol told the media that:
Access FULL-TEXT article
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