Metal oxide based breath nanosensors for diagnosis of diabetes

[Northerner]

Human breath contains a number of volatile organic components (VOCs). An accurate detection of a specific VOC – i.e., a biomarker for a particular disease – in the exhaled breath, can provide useful information for diagnosis of various diseases. For example, acetone, H2S, ammonia, and toluene can be used as biomarkers for evaluating diabetes, halitosis, kidney malfunction, and lung cancer, respectively. Consequently, breath analysis has been recognized as an increasingly accurate diagnostic method to link specific gaseous components in human breath to medical conditions and exposure to chemical compounds. Sampling breath is also much less invasive than testing blood, can be done very quickly, and creates as good as no biohazard waste.

http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=28303.php

 

[Vicsetter]

Early days - don't hold your breath

 

[trophywench]

Well we've known about us and 'pear drop breath' for a lot longer than I've existed so far, so that bit ain't new, except of course if you could measure it before the smell became noticeable that would be good.

Interesting anyway!