Pohang team touts cancer test kit

A Korean research team led by Yoo Jae-cheon, a professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology, said yesterday that it has created a simple device that allows people to test themselves for cancer at home. The team said its Digital Bio Disc and a driver that can read the disc can detect cancer of the breast, liver, stomach, intestine and uterus and diabetes-related diseases. It is currently undergoing the Korea Food and Drug Administration’s approval process. The disposable disc looks like a regular CD, but there is a little hole in which one puts in a few drops of blood. The disc contains chemicals that are needed to analyze the blood. The disc is then inserted in the driver, which can be connected to one’s computer. About 40 minutes later, the computer shows the results, which can be sent through the Internet to the hospital for an official diagnosis. The team said it wants to sell the kit here, which will retail under 100,000 won ($100). It also will seek patents overseas. by Wohn Dong-hee