Detection of Long COVID Microclots using Pulsed Speckle Contrast Optical Spectroscopy

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Conflicts of Interest

Identified Weaknesses

Rating Explanation

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Paper Summary

Paperzilla title

Laser Detects Fake Blood Clots, Struggles With The Real Thing

This study investigated a new method for detecting microclots, which are thought to be linked to long COVID, using lasers. While the method was able to distinguish different clot concentrations in simpler test fluids, it faced challenges in whole blood due to interference from blood cells. Further research is needed to overcome these limitations and confirm findings with patient samples.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

Authors RR, BH, and SK are employed by Openwater.

Identified Weaknesses

Limited applicability to whole blood

The method couldn't reliably detect microclots in whole blood samples due to the strong scattering of light by blood cells. This limits its direct application to patient blood testing.

Lack of validation with patient samples

While the study explored different concentrations, validating the findings with actual patient samples diagnosed with Long COVID is crucial for real-world applicability.

Simplified flow model

The study uses a flow phantom which simulates blood flow but lacks the complexity of a real biological system. This limits the translatability of findings.

Rating Explanation

This is a proof-of-concept study with a limited scope, demonstrating potential but also significant limitations. The inability to reliably measure in whole blood is a major drawback that lowers the rating. However, it explores a novel approach to a clinically relevant problem and provides insights for future research.

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