Pocket-sized fluorometer rivals lab tests for cancer and HIV

University of Illinois researchers created the VPodDuo, a pocket-sized fluorometer about the size of AirPods that uses two calibrated photodiodes to read fluorescence-based tests for pathogens and cancer biomarkers, delivering lab-grade results—comparable to expensive lab fluorimeters—for Zika, Staphylococcus aureus, HIV and cancer-related DNA/miRNA markers, with potential for home or point-of-care diagnostics; further automation and sample handling improvements are still needed before widespread use.