Seth Kimble with Robert Deissler

Optimization of Optical Based Malaria Detection

The detection of malaria present in humans has been shown to be possible by measuring the absorption of laser light as a magnetic field is applied to a blood sample containing the paramagnetic malaria hemozoin. However, current systems rely on moving parts and are subject to many sources of noise that prevent detection of low level infection rates. By exploring the response of hemozoin to different powers and wavelengths of light, in addition to using liquid crystal photoshutters as a means to detect hemozoin it may be possible to detect malaria infection at one Plasmodium parasite per picoliter of blood or less.