Ghana scientists deploy AI-powered mobile lab for early disease detection

Scientists at Imperial College London are developing a portable handheld device, dubbed: “Lab-in-a-Bag,” capable of detecting multiple viral and infectious diseases within 30 minutes.

Researchers say the innovation can help to address late detection and misdiagnosis of diseases, particularly in remote and underserved communities in Ghana and across Africa.

Dr Matthew Cavuto, the Head of Engineering and Product Development at the College, explained that the Lab-in-a-Bag technology was designed to bring laboratory-quality diagnostics directly to patients, reducing delays that occurred when samples must be transported to distant laboratories.

He said the device was powered by an artificial intelligence technology called DragonFLy, developed by researchers working with ProtonDx and partners under the Digital Diagnostics for African Health Systems initiative.

Dr Cavuto said this when journalists from Ghana and Nigeria visited the lab at the College as part of a media training programme on Science, Technology, and Innovation reporting.

He noted that the initiative enabled health workers to conduct laboratory-quality tests in villages, clinics, and field settings without the need for traditional laboratory infrastructure.

Dr Cavuto said the Lab-in-a-Bag, integrated with DragonFLy technology, was already being tested in Ghana and other African countries.

“The portable kit fits into a backpack and allows healthcare workers to conduct diagnostic testing in the field using battery-powered equipment,” he said.

He explained that the system used magnetic nanoparticles, known as: “Turbo Beads,” to capture and isolate DNA and RNA from pathogens. Once processed, the sample is placed in a small heating block, where results are generated within 20 to 30 minutes.

The Researcher said after the test, results are displayed through a simple colour-change system, pink for negative and yellow for positive, making interpretation easy, even in low-resource settings.

“The tests can detect a wide range of pathogens, including malaria, COVID-19, influenza, mpox, herpes viruses, and other respiratory infections,” he noted.

Dr Cavuto added that freeze-dried reagents such as enzymes and antibodies used in the tests remain stable at room temperature, eliminating the need for refrigeration and making the technology suitable for rural deployment.

He said field trials are currently underway in Ghana, The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Zambia, and Uganda.

Dr Nick Moser, a Researcher at the Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, said tests were being conducted in community clinics and villages rather than hospitals, demonstrating the technology’s potential to expand access to diagnostics.

He noted that participants in the trials provided informed consent, while all studies were conducted under ethical approval.

“We’re moving diagnostics out of hospitals and directly into communities. You don’t need a lab; this device can test for several pathogens using a single sample and detect multiple infections simultaneously. You can run tests anywhere,” he said.

Dr Moser said the device was designed for use in challenging environments, including areas without electricity, as tests could run on battery power or solar energy.

“This technology has already been tested in extreme conditions, including temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius in Arctic environments. The goal is to eliminate geographical barriers to healthcare,” he noted.

The diagnostic system allows results to be uploaded to cloud-based platforms, enabling real-time disease surveillance and faster outbreak response. Alternatively, results can be recorded manually where internet connectivity is limited.

Dr Moser noted that efforts were underway to reduce manufacturing costs and ensure accessibility in African markets, saying: “We’re designing this with African healthcare systems in mind.”