A few decades ago, you never would have thought a $34 dongle on your smartphone could become an HIV and syphilis .

(Wikipedia defines a dongle as a small piece of hardware that attaches to a computer, TV, or other electronic device in order to enable additional functions such as copy protection, audio, video, games, data, or other services. These services are available only when the dongle is attached).

Engadget, the tech site, said the
dongle is being developed by Columbia University researchers.

When the dongle is completed, it will only take 15 minutes to get the results. This is how it works. The person being tested pricks his or her finger and places a drop of blood on the plate collector. The companion app
releases “the reagents needed for the test.”

We are going to be seeing a lot more diseases being diagnosed by smartphones and apps. We just have to hope they are accurate.