AUTHOR=Bae Chae Yun , Shin Young Min , Kim Mijin , Song Younghoon , Lee Hong Jong , Kim Kyung Hwan , Lee Hong Woo , Kim Yong Jun , Kanyemba Creto , Lungu Douglas K. , Kang Byeong-il , Han Seunghee , Beck Hans-Peter , Cho Shin-Hyeong , Woo Bo Mee , Lim Chan Yang , Choi Kyung-Hak TITLE=Embedded-deep-learning-based sample-to-answer device for on-site malaria diagnosis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1392269 DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2024.1392269 ISSN=2296-4185 ABSTRACT=

Improvements in digital microscopy are critical for the development of a malaria diagnosis method that is accurate at the cellular level and exhibits satisfactory clinical performance. Digital microscopy can be enhanced by improving deep learning algorithms and achieving consistent staining results. In this study, a novel miLab™ device incorporating the solid hydrogel staining method was proposed for consistent blood film preparation, eliminating the use of complex equipment and liquid reagent maintenance. The miLab™ ensures consistent, high-quality, and reproducible blood films across various hematocrits by leveraging deformable staining patches. Embedded-deep-learning-enabled miLab™ was utilized to detect and classify malarial parasites from autofocused images of stained blood cells using an internal optical system. The results of this method were consistent with manual microscopy images. This method not only minimizes human error but also facilitates remote assistance and review by experts through digital image transmission. This method can set a new paradigm for on-site malaria diagnosis. The miLab™ algorithm for malaria detection achieved a total accuracy of 98.86% for infected red blood cell (RBC) classification. Clinical validation performed in Malawi demonstrated an overall percent agreement of 92.21%. Based on these results, miLab™ can become a reliable and efficient tool for decentralized malaria diagnosis.