This Revolutionary Technology Accurately Detects 13 Types Of Cancer Using Single Drop Of Blood

Renowned Japanese enterprise Toshiba Corp. has unveiled its new technology that is capable of detecting 13 different types of cancer accurately using just a drop of blood.

The new diagnostic technology which has 99% accuracy is made in collaboration with the National Cancer Center Research Institute and Tokyo Medical University. It is expected that this new device will reach the masses in the near future once it successfully passes clinical trials in 2020.

The device is designed in such a way that it examines the type and the concentration of microRNA (miRNA) molecules that the cancer cells secrete in the blood. Other companies like Toray Industries Inc. have already designed similar devices that can detect cancer using miRNA molecules from a patient’s blood sample.

"Compared to other companies' methods, we have an edge in the degree of accuracy in cancer detection, the time required for detection and the cost,” Japantimes quoted Koji Hashimoto, Chief Research Scientist at Toshiba's Frontier Research Laboratory.

Along with digital solutions that use artificial intelligence (AI), the Japanese firm has positioned medical businesses like cell diagnosis and genome analysis in its upcoming business strategies.

The new device is capable of detecting the following cancers:

Gastric cancer
Esophageal cancer
Lung cancer
Liver cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Bowel cancer
Bladder cancer
Ovarian cancer
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Biliary tract cancer
Sarcoma
Glioma

Alongside being revolutionary, prompt and accurate in detecting cancer, it is expected that the device would also be affordable. The chip and the small device which will be used to conduct cancer detection within a couple of hours are expected to cost less than 20,000 yen ($180).

With such incredible accuracy, affordability, speed, and being able to detect so many kinds of cancer, this device might soon be fundamental in the offices of doctors and oncologists throughout the world.

However, this isn’t the first time such a method has been discovered to detect cancer promptly and accurately. The experts at the University of Queensland have previously developed a universal cancer test which used a simple color-changing fluid to detect malignant cells in the body, within just ten minutes.