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Breathalyzer Detects Diabetes Scientists at the Mississippi State University have invented a high-tech sensory device that can detect the early symptoms of diabetes in a person’s breath. MISSISSIPPI STATE scientists have developed a breathalyzer that can detect early symptoms of diabetes, improving the reliability of diagnostic testing for the disease.
"You blow your breath into the instrument one time and you receive a number indicating your status, whether you are diabetes-free or in the early or severe stages of the disease," wrote Chuji Wang, a Mississippi State University physicist.
The technology could offer a faster, non-invasive alternative to existing testing methods, such as urine and blood tests, which are low in sensitivity and can lead to negative results in early stages of the disease.
The device utilizes highly effective sensors that can detect concentration levels of acetone in a person’s breath. It is these acetone levels that indicate whether a person has diabetes.
John Plodinec and Chuji Wang have developed a prototype and applied for a patent. "You blow your breath into the instrument one time and you receive a number indicating your status, whether you are diabetes-free or in the early or severe stages of the disease," said Wang.
Plodinec said his interest in breath analysis dated back to his days in the military."When I was in Vietnam in the ’60s, the Army had developed an instrument that could discriminate between Vietnamese and Americans based on their breath," Plodinec said. "This sparked my original interest in breath analysis."
He said the idea of detecting diabetes by capturing a sampling of breath followed a conversation in which someone pointed out that acetone in the breath is a good indicator of the disease. Plodinec said the most difficult task in detecting acetone is the fact that it is present in breath in minuscule amounts, or parts-per-billion.
"Only sensitive instruments in a controlled laboratory setting can reliably detect it. But that was good news for us, because we were already developing cavity ring-down techniques that are 100 times more sensitive than most lab instruments," he said.
Continuous Wave Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy, which uses light rays to detect contiminates in the breath was developed by Princeton University and is used to find a wide range of disease indicators, gaseous and environmental pollutants.
"The main advantage is a fast response and it’s noninvasive," said Wang. "It’s better to diagnose diabetes in the early stages, which requires a very sensitive instrument."
The researchers achieved proof of concept, designed a prototype early this year and applied for a patent with the U.S. Patent Office, initiating a process that usually takes from 12 to 18 months for a decision.
McClain said early detection is a key. "If you are diagnosed with pre-diabetes or heading in that direction, you can turn it around by lifestyle modifications."
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