A “lab-on-a-chip” sounds like an object out of science fiction. However, these tools are portable tests that can read samples quickly and exist in the real world.
Researchers have made a lab-on-a-chip that measures cortisol, the stress hormone, from saliva in just minutes. It sends the results to a smartphone and can help gauge someone’s mental health risks. Unlike traditional questionnaires that are subjective, this gives biochemical information that can help doctors see how a person’s body is reacting to emotional stress. The chip may also have uses for detecting heart attacks or other physical conditions.
The chip looks complicated, but it can be used by a person at home. It uses a saliva sample and is inserted into a reader that transmits the information to the smartphone, as seen in the picture above. It’s non-invasive and takes only minutes.
Heightened levels of cortisol for extended periods can cause mental health problems like depression and anxiety. The test could find a problem before a person feels like reporting it on a questionnaire. Not everyone is self-aware about how stressed they are feeling or how they are doing mentally. As doctors only see patients for short visits, this test can give them an accurate insight into what is happening inside the body. People can take the test at home, and their doctors can see the results through a shared app.
“We’re working on point-of-care testing, which allows patients to do testing at home or in a clinic. People don’t want to go to a lab to get invasive tests,” said Prof. Chong Ahn of the Univ. of Cincinnati. “Mental health care can be an urgent situation. And so these tests will help doctors make timely interventions.”
The researchers have also modified the test to look for a protein that the body releases when the heart is distressed. It could help spot heart attacks in progress. A person could feel the symptoms of a heart attack, take the test, and get a confirmation. This could be very beneficial for people who have already had a heart attack, as people who have had one are at higher risk for another. It could also monitor high-risk heart patients daily for early warning signs.
Research like this that makes home testing easier is wonderful. Getting to the doctor isn’t always easy. And doctor appointments can be rushed. Having at-home tests that are accurate and accessible is a way to make healthcare better for everyone. We are excited to see it in use.
