Scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder have unveiled an innovative technology that could replace traditional blood tests from a vein. The new palm-sized diagnostic device requires just 1 drop of blood and can provide results in 60 minutes. At the heart of the technology are tiny particles with special coatings that recognize and capture targeted biomarkers in the blood. These particles are then isolated from the total volume of fluid using sound waves, after which the biomarkers attached to them are labeled with fluorescent tags. Laser counting allows their number to be determined with high accuracy. Scientists have confirmed that the sensitivity and specificity of the new device are comparable to standard laboratory tests, while the time to obtain a result is less than 70 minutes. The researchers plan to use this device for diagnostics right at the patient's bedside, which will allow not only to detect the presence of infections, but also to assess the viral load and its growth rate. The team is currently working on the possibility of simultaneous testing for several indicators.