Scientists at Colorado State University have devised a tool that uses spit to screen patients at home for heart failure, which occurs when the heart muscle becomes weakened, thereby reducing its ability to pump sufficient oxygenated blood throughout the body.

They point-of-care electrochemical biosensor prototype, which resembles a transparent COVID-19 lateral flow test, is designed to detect two biomarkers for heart failure using just a drop of saliva. The team suggests results from the test could be delivered in mere minutes.

Source: Trey PittmanSource: Trey Pittman

The team developed what it calls the electrochemical capillary-driven immunoassay (eCaDI), which features a saliva-based microfluidic device and a biosensor that detects the biomarker proteins Galectin-3 and S100A7, which reportedly have a strong correlation with heart failure outcomes.

According to its developers, the eCaDI device is comprised of five layers — three layers of transparent, flexible plastic, combined with layers of double-sided adhesive.

To test the device, the team added controlled amounts of the two heart failure biomarkers to standardized human saliva samples, finding that the eCaDI could accurately detect the concentrations of Galectin-3 and S100A7.

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