Photonics plays a crucial role in blood testing by using light-based technologies for rapid and precise analysis. These methods allow for efficient and non-invasive monitoring of various health conditions, improving the accuracy of diagnoses and enabling earlier detection of diseases.
On board blood tester
Did you know that in many of today’s smartwatches and glucose meters, a photonics-based blood sensor is used to check your health? These sensors shine light onto your skin to measure glucose, oxygen levels and hydration. By looking at how the light is absorbed or reflected by your blood, the smartwatch can give you helpful health information in real-time, without needing to take a blood sample.
Faster results
The use of photonics can bring faster results. With help from light sensors the blood can be analyzed in a split second. This is done when the light goes through the skin which then gathers information that sends it back. With traditional needle testing this process could take days if not weeks. Improving the speed of such tests is a great advantage in emergency situations.
Better results
Not only is a photonics-based test faster, but it is also more exact. The device uses a light source that shines onto the skin, this happens different colors(wavelengths) depending on what is going to be measured. Blood has lots of substances like glucose, oxygen and proteins. Every substance reflects light in its own way. This can show the concentration of each substance in the blood. These results are then translated by computers.
Safety of photonics
Needle testing can cause incidents, such as accidental penetration of nerves or arteries, for patients this can have serious effects even later. Also, healthcare takers are at an elevated risk of injury due to possible blood transmission, which can result in transmission of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B. Photonics based testing is non-invasive, therefore healthcare workers are never in contact with the patient’s blood.
Environmentally friendly
For blood testing using needles, you also need a syringe, medical gloves, vials and more. These are a one-time use resulting in a lot of waste. Also, manufacturing these costs a lot of raw materials and energy. Light technology is typically reusable many times. Although the initial impact on the environment to produce a photonics-based device is higher, over the lifetime of use, the environmental impact is much lower.
So why are needles still needed?
With non-invasive tests, light travels through the skin. For some analysis, the needed wavelength can be harmful for the skin and the blood would still need to be drawn with a needle first. For example, x test is still done with photonics-based technology but inside the lab. There are also things that can’t be revealed by light technology such as identifying diseases or infections.
The up march of photonics
So, we are already analysis blood ourselves with our smart devices and more advanced tests are already available, but for a broader adoption of light technology for blood test to replace more of the needle testing, you also need regulations and approvals. Experts currently estimate a much broader adoption of light technology for blood analysis by 2030.
In conclusion, usage of light technology instead of traditional needle testing has many benefits for society by quicker and more correct results and the hospitals themselves because it is quite cheap in comparison to needles. It also helps so that the climate situation does not get much worse than it already is. Experts believe that in at least 10-15 years light technology will be used for blood testing and blood research.
Author: Mohamed Mohamed
