• Question: how does this machine work?

    Asked by Lily + Ella to Jamie on 23 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Jamie Johnston

      Jamie Johnston answered on 23 Jun 2015:

      The simple answer is this:

      – It takes a patients blood or urine sample and cleans it.

      – Then all the DNA is removed from the sample and the rest is disposed of.

      – There is very little DNA in the sample so we amplify it until there is lots and lots and lots of DNA.

      – Some chemicals are then mixed with the amplified DNA that target only the DNA of the infections.

      – The machine then uses a type of electrolysis (passes an electric current through the DNA) and we measure the current coming out of the other side.

      -The numbers that are read then get processed by a computer algorithm that determines if the result is positive or negative, and the answer pops up on the screen.

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