Scientists have developed a low-cost, paper-based microfluidic
point-of-care test that they claim can can identify drug-induced
liver toxicity from a fingerprick of blood in just 15 minutes.
The multiplex, postage stamp-sized test semiquantitatvely
measures levels of the serum transaminases aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotranserase (ALT), and
provides the results as a color-change reaction akin to that of
a litmus paper test for measuring pH. The Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center (BIDMC) team say the platform could form the
basis of a cheap, easy-to-use assay that could be used routinely
in any POC or field setting to monitor for liver status in
patients with underlying liver disease, or those receiving
potentially heptatotoxic drugs for diseases such as tuberculosis
or HIV. Moreover, the test format could be adapted to measure a
diverse range of analytes. Monitoring for hepatotoxicity in
resource-limited settings is often hampered by expense, as well
as logistic and practical issues, ex