Fast Diagnostics may Not Better Health Outcomes

Quick and snappy diagnostics may not improve health outcomes. In this week's PLoS Medicine, the PLoS Medicine editors discuss the latest research and analysis into fast and easy diagnostic tests.

The editors conclude: "We are fortunate to live in a time when technology enables us to rapidly gather and process information; the ability to do so is transforming health care. However, [the recent PLoS Medicine papers discussed] serve as a timely reminder that rapidly detecting the cause of an illness is not in itself enough to significantly change health outcomes."

Rapid Diagnostic Tests for Malaria Parasites
Cochrane review looks at the accuracy of Rapid Diagnostic Tests designed to detect malaria based on the presence of the parasite antigens.

Source-Eurekalert

President Appeals to Prevent Misuse of Diagnostic Tests to Curb Female Feticide
In order to curb female feticide, President Pratibha Patil has appealed to the medical fraternity to ensure that diagnostic tests are not misused for pre-natal sex determination.

Researchers Develop Microfluidic Integrated Circuit to Enable Home Diagnostic Tests
University of Michigan researchers have created microfluidic integrated circuits in a bid to simplify lab-on-a-chip devices for quicker, cheaper and more portable medical tests.

Diagnostic Tests for Malaria Underused in Zambia
Despite improvements in the ability to diagnose malaria, these diagnostic tests are often underused in Zambia, and patients with negative test results are often prescribed anti-malaria medications.