Camera can help in diagnostics in rural areas

LONDON, UK: Camera phones can play a vital role in medical diagnostics, especially in remote or rural areas, reveals a study.

The study led by researcher Coosje Tuijn of the Royal Tropical Institute in the Netherlands, showed that a two megapixel camera can capture clear microscopy images that could be sent to a website for analysis by a specialist.

The specialist could email feedback through a text message. Researchers conducted the feasibility study in Uganda, the journal Public Library of Science ONE reported.

With more fine tuning, doctors could use this virtual network to help more patients in less time, particularly in remote and sparsely populated areas, according to a university statement.

"Such technological advances could improve diagnosis in peripheral health settings by empowering under-educated and insufficiently experienced health care and laboratory workers to meet quality standards," concluded Tuijn.