Researchers at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) say they have developed a blood test that can detect cancer for only Tk 500.
The team, led by Prof Dr Yasmeen Haque of SUST Physics department, invented the technology by researching nonlinear optics.
“A 25-strong team conducted the research, which consisted of five teachers and the remaining were undergraduate, graduate and PhD students,” Dr Sharif Md Sharafuddin, a member of the research team, told Bangla Tribune.
He said they used nonlinear optics to detect cancer early in the body.
In this method, they pass a high laser beam or intense light through the blood samples, serum, and observe the change. In normal condition, there will be no changes in the sample, said Sharafuddin.
Nonlinear optics deals with the fundamental studies of the interaction of matter with intense light. After the discovery of lasers when intense light sources became available, this field also flourished.
Dr Yasmeen Haque, who led the research, said so far, it was not certified by any international authority such as the World Health Organisation, nor was it published in any journal.
But said they have advanced their effort to get the patent in the United States, which means it has a solid scientific base.
“With this research, the university has developed a ‘nonlinear optics’ team and has now a nonlinear optics research laboratory which is providing opportunities for the physicists to conduct sensitive optical experiments,” she said.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid disclosed the invention at a media briefing at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka on Wednesday.
“It’s completely a new technology and a great success of Bangladesh in the field of education research. It’ll be used for the welfare of all,” he said.
As part of the project, a nonlinear bio-optics research laboratory was established at the SUST Physics department.
The laboratory has started the work to measure the nonlinear index through sending powerful laser rays into the blood serum of cancer patients.
There is no need to use additional reagent in the new method as required in the biochemical system.
The minister said once the project is implemented successfully, it will be possible to detect the nonlinear characteristics of any blood sample apart from cancer patients.