#microfluiditics

[nuadox]

Researchers develop low-cost saliva test for heart failure screening at home

- By Nuadox Crew -

A team of researchers has developed a low-cost, point-of-care electrochemical biosensor that can screen for heart failure at home.

Video: "Saliva test gives heart failure prognosis on demand" by ACS, YouTube.

This prototype, resembling a transparent lateral flow test, detects two biomarkers from just a drop of saliva in about 15 minutes. Trey Pittman, a graduate student at Colorado State University, will present the research at the American Chemical Society's Fall 2024 meeting. The device targets people in rural or low-resource areas with limited access to healthcare. Current heart failure screening typically involves blood tests conducted twice a year, but this new tool could enable frequent, at-home saliva tests.

The biosensor, known as an electrochemical capillary-driven immunoassay (eCaDI), combines microfluidic and biosensing technologies. It is composed of five layers, including plastic, adhesive, blotting paper, and electrodes, and costs around $3 to produce. Initial tests showed that the eCaDI could accurately detect the heart failure biomarkers Galectin-3 and S100A7. The next phase involves human trials at Griffith University in Australia.

This technology could also be adapted for other diseases, offering an accessible solution for underserved populations. The research was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Read more at American Chemical Society (ACS)

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