Portable analyzer will detect heart failure markers in saliva

US scientists have developed a rapid test to detect markers of heart failure in saliva. According to a report published at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society, the portable test uses a sandwich-type electrochemical multiplexed immunoassay based on carbon electrodes. The test detects the content of galectin-3 and psoriasin proteins in saliva, which have been linked to heart failure outcomes.

Trey Pittman's team at the University of Colorado has developed a capillary-driven microfluidic platform that can process saliva of varying viscosities in less than 15 minutes. Electrochemical immunoassay demonstrated in the studies a linear signal response in the clinically relevant range, with detection limits of 9.66 nanograms per milliliter for galectin-3 and 39 nanograms per milliliter for psoriasin. Clinical trials are expected soon to stratify the portable test, which will be particularly relevant for poor countries without access to expensive laboratory diagnostic methods.