Once a few drops of blood enter the device , an electric field will sort them based on the state , size and shape of the cells . The sorted cells will have a baseline value of capacitance that will show up by the sensor and thus we can conclude the type of infection .
Machine-learning is applied to make this tool robust and sensitive to detect multiple infections within minutes . What makes the project unique is its ability to detect multiple tick-borne infections at once and in a timely fashion .
“ Additionally , our platform will detect anaplasmosis , babesiosis and Lyme disease at an early stage non-invasively compared to the other available techniques that test four to six weeks after the development of infection ,” Srivastava says . “ Most tests available currently are symptom-based , and symptoms develop four to six weeks after a tick bite . Our platform can detect these diseases early on , within one to two weeks , in under 30 minutes using a portable diagnostic tool . If successful , this tool may be useful for a variety of health applications beyond tick-borne diseases .”
Rapid detection could reduce the risk of hospitalization and doctor ’ s visits and prevent the disease from progressing into a chronic , life-long condition .
WVHEPC Reports WVSOM ’ s Critical Statewide Role
According to a report issued by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission , the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine ( WVSOM ) had the lowest 2021-2022 tuition costs of the state ’ s three medical schools for both in-state and out-of-state students . The report also noted that in-state tuition at all West Virginia medical schools is among the most affordable in the nation .
The commission ’ s report found that WVSOM produces more graduates who choose primary care residencies than West Virginia ’ s other two medical schools combined . In 2022 , a total of 114 new WVSOM graduates — 58 % of the class — entered primary care residencies . The report stated that the national rate for graduates entering primary care residencies was 50 %.
The report also found that WVSOM leads the state in the number of alumni who practice primary care in West Virginia , with 110 primary care physicians who graduated from the medical school between 2012 and 2017 , compared with 77 from the second-highest school and 41 from the third-highest school .
The report defines primary care as encompassing family medicine , internal medicine , OB-GYN and pediatrics .
Additionally , WVSOM produces the highest number of physicians who practice in the Mountain State in all specialties , as well as the largest number who practice in rural areas of West Virginia . A total of 164 WVSOM alumni from graduating classes between 2012 and 2017 practiced in West Virginia , compared with 148 from the second-highest school and 84 from the third-highest school . A total of 74 physicians who graduated from WVSOM during those years practice in rural areas of the state , nearly double the number of physicians from the other two schools combined .
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