Imagine the number of lives that could be saved if their heart attacks could be detected in minutes than the hours current diagnostic tools take. Researchers at the US-based Johns Hopkins University have invented a new blood test that can show off biomarkers indicating a heart attack much faster. It is both cheap and accurate.
What’s more, this test can be done on a portable device outside a clinical setting. Published in Advanced Science, researchers note that the system can be used by first responders for whom early detection is critical.
Why is this a breakthrough diagnostic tool?
Current heart attack diagnostics, such as electrocardiograms (ECGs) and standard blood tests, can be time-consuming and often require multiple steps or repeated tests to confirm a diagnosis. Dr Vijay Natarajan, Head of Cardiac Surgery and Director of Surgical Services, Bharati Hospital, Pune, says rapidity and accuracy of diagnosis would be life-savers. “A major cause of heart attack-related deaths is delayed diagnosis. The challenges in an Indian setting, however, will be its easy accessibility and affordability,” he says.
How does the test work?
Researchers used biophotonics, or laser lights, to detect blood biomarkers, which are bodily responses to conditions including disease. The stand-alone blood test provides results in five to seven minutes.
The tool is based on Raman spectroscopy, or the interaction of light with the chemical bonds in a molecule. “Our tool measures key proteins like creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB), myoglobin (Mb), and cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), which are indicators of a heart attack. What makes this tool unique is its ability to detect these biomarkers within minutes using ultra-low sample volumes and concentrations,” says Peng Zheng, lead author of the Johns Hopkins University over email.
The diagnostic tool operates by using a tiny chip. When a small blood sample is placed on the chip, the system detects specific molecular fingerprints corresponding to cardiac biomarkers. The tool is sensitive enough to flag heart attack biomarkers that might not be detected at all with current tests, or not detected until much later in an attack.
Can the test module be adapted to diagnose cancers, infectious diseases?
Although the initial focus was on heart attack diagnostics, the core technology has much broader applications. “Because it can detect specific biomarkers in ultra-low concentrations, we see significant potential for adapting the platform to diagnose cancers, infectious diseases and other conditions. By tailoring the chip to detect different molecular signatures, it could become a versatile tool for a wide range of medical diagnoses. The platform’s ability to multiplex — detect multiple biomarkers simultaneously—adds to its versatility,” says senior author Ishan Barman.
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