title: A review of cellphone microscopy for disease detection.
abstract: The expansion in global cellphone network coverage coupled with advances in cellphone imaging capabilities present an opportunity for the advancement of cellphone microscopy as a low-cost alternative to conventional microscopy for disease detection in resource-limited regions. The development of cellphone microscopy has also benefitted from the availability of low-cost miniature microscope components such as low-power light-emitting diodes and ball lenses. As a result, researchers are developing hardware and software techniques that would enable such microscopes to produce high-resolution, diagnostic-quality images. This approach may lead to more widespread delivery of diagnostic services in resource-limited areas where there is a shortage of the skilled labour required for conventional microscopy and where prevalence of infectious and other diseases is still high. In this paper, we review current techniques, clinical applications and challenges faced in the field of cellphone microscopy.
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dendere
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Myburg
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCT Medical Imaging Research Unit, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D003954:Diagnostic Services; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods
keywords: Cellphone; diagnosis; image quality; infectious disease; low-income countries; microscopy; mobile phone; telemedicine