A new saliva-based test can detect the presence of breast cancer biomarkers in seconds, providing on-the-spot results through a handheld device.
“Imagine medical staff conducting breast cancer screening in communities or hospitals,” Hsiao-Hsuan Wan, doctoral student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Florida, Gainesville and lead author of the study, said.
Real-Time Results Without Radiation
The new saliva test strips and handheld device offer a portable way to screen for breast cancer biomarkers, according to the study published in the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B.The device works by analyzing a saliva sample placed on a test strip coated with antibodies that respond to cancer biomarkers. When the test strip is inserted, electrical pulses are sent to contact points on the biosensor device.
The electrical signals are then measured and translated into digital information indicating the levels of cancer biomarkers present.
“Our device is an excellent choice because it is portable, reusable, and provides results in under five seconds per sample,” Mr. Wan said in a statement.Compared to alternatives like mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs, the new test is inexpensive, non-invasive, and does not use radiation. Patients also receive results rapidly, in near real-time.
To determine efficacy, the researchers tested 21 human saliva samples, including from healthy patients, those with early stage breast cancer confined to milk ducts, and patients with advanced invasive breast cancer. The test successfully detected three cases of early breast cancer and 14 cases of invasive breast cancer.
The portable test could expand access to potentially life-saving diagnoses, particularly in areas without advanced medical facilities. But with a small initial sample size, questions remain about the accuracy and viability of the method before it’s ready for clinical use.
