We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




POCT Device Monitors C-Reactive Protein Levels Associated with Inflammation in Real Time

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 27 Aug 2024

Inflammation, a natural immune response, increases blood flow and improves cellular defense against diseases and infections. More...

Rapid detection of inflammation is critical for effective treatment, creating the need for quick tests for inflammatory biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP). Produced in the liver, CRP is released into the bloodstream as part of the immune response and acts as a marker of inflammation and infection. It has been used historically to diagnose inflammation, but its broader potential as a biomarker for various diseases is a relatively recent development. Monitoring CRP levels can help diagnose severe conditions such as trauma, sepsis, ischemic necrosis, and malignancies. Although it is an acute phase reactant, tracking its levels over time is necessary to assess the effectiveness of treatments. Despite advancements in medical diagnostics, current methods to measure CRP levels lack the speed and immediacy needed for optimal care.

Now, researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry (ICHF) at the Polish Academy of Sciences (Warsaw, Poland) have developed a novel point-of-care device that measures CRP levels quickly and accurately, enhancing the speed and cost-effectiveness of analyses. This device, the size of a credit card, integrates electrochemical biosensors with near-field communication (NFC) technology within a microfluidic system. It requires only a small sample placed on a microfluidic plate with a tiny electrode. The sample moves through the device via capillary action, eliminating the need for external pumps and allowing automatic flow.

The device performs measurements electrochemically using a portable potentiostat. CRP detection occurs on specially designed electrodes within the microfluidic channels. These electrodes are coated with anti-CRP nanobodies—small antibody fragments that offer high specificity and stability under various conditions, making them ideal for detecting even low concentrations of antigens. The use of nanobodies enhances the sensitivity of the measurements, providing a balance between analytical accuracy and quick analysis times.

Results are displayed on Android smartphones, allowing real-time data collection and analysis. This biosensor captures and quantifies CRP as effectively as traditional, more expensive methods like ELISA tests. Offering greater sensitivity and stability, the device enables real-time measurements that greatly expand its utility in clinical settings. It provides a user-friendly, rapid, and affordable diagnostic tool that facilitates immediate treatment decisions, thus improving patient outcomes. This development marks a significant advance towards modern, personalized healthcare, allowing for quicker diagnoses and better monitoring of treatment efficacy.

“The proposed method was applied to the detection of CRP in whole human blood obtained from anonymous donors,” said Professor Martin Jönsson-Niedziółka who led the study. “The experimental results showed that the NFC-based system integrated with the flow-through microfluidic device can correctly quantify CRP in clinically relevant biological samples without the need for pretreatment procedures and could therefore be used for the assessment of inflammation, infections caused by bacteria or viruses, and monitor for increased risk of heart disease.”

Related Links:
ICHF 


Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
Varicella Zoster Virus Assay
LIAISON VZV Assay Panel (IgG HT, IgM)
New
Urine Drug Test
Instant-view® Phencyclidine Urine Drug Test
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Ear wax could be a possible screening medium for Parkinson’s disease (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Earwax Test Accurately Detects Parkinson’s by Identifying Odor Molecules

Current tests for Parkinson’s disease (PD) rely heavily on clinical scales and neuroimaging, which are often subjective, expensive, and ill-suited for routine screening. Since most treatments only slow... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: Capsule sponge opened to reveal the sponge (Photo courtesy of StillVision)

Capsule Sponge Test Could Replace Endoscopies for Monitoring Esophageal Cancer Risk

Esophageal cancer remains a challenging disease to treat, with fewer than 20% of patients surviving beyond five years of diagnosis—a statistic that has remained largely unchanged for decades.... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The new tool shines a light on elusive genomic patterns (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Computational Tool Exposes Hidden Cancer DNA Changes Influencing Treatment Resistance

Structural changes in tumor DNA are among the most damaging genetic alterations in cancer, yet they often go undetected, particularly when tissue samples are degraded or of low quality. These hidden genomic... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.