Scientists from China have developed a new paper strip test that could allow heart failure patients to monitor their condition at home.
A study on the new strip, conducted by researchers at Xi’an Jiatong University, was published in the journal ACS Nano.
The strip is fairly easy to use and only needs a small blood sample of 10 microliters to test if the cardiac biomarker ST2 is present in the sample. If it is present, a blue dot glows on the strip, and if BNP is present, a green dot glows.
If a patient’s heart failure is worsening, the colors on the strip will intensify. An accompanying smartphone app can analyze results and send data to a remote physician, who can then adjust treatment accordingly.
Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer for TriMed Media Group, Katherine primarily focuses on producing news stories, Q&As and features for Cardiovascular Business. She reports on several facets of the cardiology industry, including emerging technology, new clinical trials and findings, and quality initiatives among providers. She is based out of TriMed's Chicago office and holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in Modern Healthcare, Crain's Chicago Business and The Detroit News. She joined TriMed in 2016.