A while back I interviewed Steve Haswell, a researcher from Hull who is developing a DNA analysis chip.
Now, according to piece on the Future of Things blog, scientists in California are working on a similar blood analysis model:
The chip-based device will perform a simple blood test in about two minutes. Apart from counting red and white blood cells (RBCs and WBCs), the team believes the new technology has great potential as a tool for analyzing fluids such as blood plasma and urine and even as a tool for cancer detection and DNA analysis.
The size of the labs used to process this sort of material is massive at the moment, and plays a large part in the slow detection and investigation of health and crime. Progress here could have a huge impact on that.