IBM scientists have created a fast, one-step point-of-care-diagnostic test, based on a silicon chip that uses capillary forces to analyze tiny samples of blood serum for the presence of disease markers.

It requires less sample volume, is significantly faster, portable, easy to use, and can test for many diseases, including cardiovascular disease — a small sample of a patient’s serum could be tested immediately following a heart attack to enable the doctor to quickly take a course of action to help the patient survive.