Smartphone based non invasive real time white blood cell counter leveraging blue light and static magnetic field.

in Scientific reports by Nafi Us Sabbir Sabith, Masud Rabbani, Kazi Shafiul Alam, Sheikh Iqbal Ahamed

TLDR

  • UbiWhite is a novel smartphone-based system for real-time WBC counting from fingertip videos.
  • The system uses optical and magnetic techniques for accurate WBC counts without blood extraction.
  • UbiWhite has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, especially in low- and middle-income nations.

Abstract

White blood cells (WBCs), also known as leukocytes, are one of the most significant parts of the immune system. They generate antibodies, protect the body from illnesses, and heal wounds. Accurate estimation of WBCs is key for diagnosing cancer, infections, leukemia, lymphoma, and other diseases. However, the widely used Complete Blood Count (CBC) test presents challenges, including prick anxiety, discomfort, and logistical inconvenience to patients. This study introduces a ubiquous White Blood Cell counting system, UbiWhite, a novel smartphone-based, non-invasive system for real-time WBC counting from fingertip videos. Our system uses optical and magnetic techniques to provide accurate WBC counts without blood extraction. An initial experimentation was carried out on 20 adult participants to verify the system's effectiveness compared to standard CBC tests (IRB #4051). The developed algorithms exhibit 1.04 and 1.23 RMSE, respectively. Our innovation provides an easy, affordable, and instantaneous solution for monitoring WBCs in various healthcare settings, including homes and critical care units. Additionally, it serves as a beacon of hope for low- and middle-income nations, where access to and affordability of traditional lab tests are limited.

Overview

  • The study introduces a novel smartphone-based system, UbiWhite, for real-time White Blood Cell (WBC) counting from fingertip videos.
  • The system uses optical and magnetic techniques to provide accurate WBC counts without blood extraction.
  • The primary objective of the study is to provide an easy, affordable, and instantaneous solution for monitoring WBCs in various healthcare settings.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • An initial experimentation was carried out on 20 adult participants to verify the system's effectiveness compared to standard CBC tests.
  • The developed algorithms exhibited 1.04 and 1.23 RMSE, respectively, indicating accurate WBC counts.
  • The results show that UbiWhite provides a reliable alternative to traditional lab tests, offering an easy and affordable solution for WBC monitoring.

Implications and Future Directions

  • UbiWhite has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, particularly in low- and middle-income nations where access to traditional lab tests is limited.
  • The system can be further improved by expanding the range of health conditions it can detect and by exploring its potential for use in remote or underserved areas.
  • Future studies should focus on improving the system's accuracy, scalability, and usability, as well as evaluating its feasibility in various clinical settings.
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