Âé¶¹´«Ã½

Technology

Blood test in a hurry

By Barry Fox

9 February 2002

A quick and easy way to check your cholesterol levels with a single-use
sensor has been hatched by Panasonic of Japan (EP 1150118). The sensors are made
by screen-printing silver electrodes onto a plastic base. The electrodes are
overprinted with an enzyme layer and sealed under a plastic skin with a small
hole in it. A drop of blood placed on the sensor is sucked through the hole by
capillary action. Any cholesterol reacts with the enzyme on the electrodes,
changing its resistance. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the
current flow between them is directly proportional…

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