Hand-held amperometric sensor for saliva and other oral fluid-based diagnostics

A new hand-held amperometric sensor for monitoring of saliva and other oral fluid-based components is described. The amperometric sensor includes a flow through amperometric detector coupled with a micropipette, and an electronic block which consists of an amplifier, peak detector, microprocessor and display. All operations, such as sample injection, electrochemical detection and data processing are accomplished using only one action, by pressing the plunger of the micropipette. The instrument has been applied for assay of salivary peroxidase, human luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin. The low detection limit of peroxidase is 0.5 ng/ml (defined as the concentration which gives a signal with S/N>2). The response time of the sensor is 1-3 s. The linear dynamic range of the hormones is from 1.0 to 80 mUI/ml. The life time of the hand-held amperometric device without regeneration of the electrode surface is 12 months. The sensor has the potential as a tool for noninvasive physiological studies and diagnostic strategies.