A group of researchers from the Institute of Engineering and Management in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, in West Bengal, claim to have developed a mobile, low-cost malaria detection system, which can also diagnose dengue with some modifications.

The research team attached a mobile phone camera on a paper microscope which can be used to take images of blood samples on a slide with some chemicals, and the data can be processed at a central server to detect the presence of malaria.

The framework includes fitting the image capturing camera, the necessary magnification, the algorithm developed to process the image and find out whether malarial parasites are present.

The malaria detection, monitoring and mitigation framework has been patented. The system is called 'Centaur' and the detection kit, including the foldable papermade microscope, incurs a manufacturing cost of just 80 rupees.

The team plans to train social workers in remote villages on using the device if it gets the nod for mass production by the West Bengal government.