Prototype Device Determines Blood Type in 5 Minutes

Do you know your blood type? A Portuguese student has designed a device that can quickly determine blood type — four times faster than current solutions. In emergency situations, diagnosing a patient's blood type is vital when a blood transfusion is needed

Ana Ferraz built a portable prototype device that has a small centrifuge with small containers for testing blood. Blood is mixed with a reagent — a substance used for chemical analysis — and put in the device, which can pair with a smartphone, tablet or PC app. Ferraz's prototype is noteworthy because it can figure out blood type in five minutes, compared to current testing methods that often take quadruple the time.