Phys.org 8月22日报道，为了诊断诸如失眠，营养不良和肝/肾功能异常这类的疾病，通常利用实验室来发现生物标记。研究人员正在做一件事，就是不再用价格昂贵的测试设备来发现生物标记。他们用自备发电的纸制的化电学设备取而代之，这种设备可以用在缺乏医疗资源的地区。
普渡大学的助理教授拉姆瑟斯.V.马丁内斯（Ramses V. Martinez）说：“你可以把这种设备当成是全部用纸做的便携实验室。既经济也可以通过焚烧扔掉。”该设备需要一滴血样，就可以测试出类似葡萄糖，尿酸，L乳酸，酮尿和白细胞的化验等生物指标。
化验通过变色来显示结果，研究人员还开发出一种应用， 就是用手机就可以读出色谱测试结果，然后帮助患者远程咨询一位专家。V.马丁内斯想像的未来测试可以测出登革热，黄热病，疟疾，HIV和肝炎。

To diagnose ailments such as anemia, malnutrition and liver and kidney disorders, lab work is usually required to detect biomarkers. Researchers are aiming to take the costly lab work out of such diagnostics with a self-powered, paper-based electrochemical device that can be used in regions lacking medical resources, Phys.org reported Aug. 22. “You could consider this a portable laboratory that is just completely made out of paper, is inexpensive and can be disposed of through incineration,” said Ramses V. Martinez, an assistant professor at Purdue University. The device requires a pinprick of blood for a sample, and can detect biomarkers such as glucose, uric acid and L-lactate, ketones and white blood cells. The assays change color to show results, and researchers have also developed an application that allows mobile phones to read the “colorimetric” tests, provide results and facilitate a consultation with an expert remotely. Martinez envisioned future tests to diagnose dengue fever, yellow fever, malaria, HIV and hepatitis.