This DIY Instrument Can Affordably Measure the Size of Red Blood Cells

Most of us just take it for granted that scientists and lab techs can quantify our physiological and anatomical traits. For example, you get some blood drawn and a couple of days later, they tell you about anything abnormal. But how do they actually determine that? And how do they do it so quickly and affordably that it is practical on a mass scale? If you’re curious, then you’ll want to see HaloPi, which is a DIY red blood cell measurement instrument designed by DaniloR29.

Many different conditions and diseases can result in red blood cells that are abnormally large (called macrocytosis) or abnormally small (called microcytosis). So, being able to measure the size of a person’s red blood cells is pretty useful. You can do so with a powerful microscope (1000x magnification seems ideal), but that process is time-consuming.

A more economical method works using light diffraction and...

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