The Cambridge University team has developed a ‘dipstick’ test for an eye infection. It can detect trachoma. A study showed it is two times more effective than traditional methods. The test was developed by Dr Helen Lee.
The infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria. About 84 million people, largely in developing countries carry the infection. Now the infection can be cured by a single dose of a drug called azithromycin.
The water-thin, 8cm long trachoma dipstick is a reworked edition of a test discovered to detect the sexually-transmitted form of chlamydia.
Read