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New £4 spit test 'can help detect breast cancer in seconds from saliva'

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The clever new technology is expected to be a worldwide phenomenon
The clever new technology is expected to be a worldwide phenomenon

A £4 TEST could help detect cancer with a single drop of spit, scientists say.

Researchers in Florida and Taiwan developed the palm-sized device which can be carried around with ease.

A brand-new spit test has been revealed that can reportedly help to detect breast cancer in just five seconds eiqekiqtuiqxeprw
A brand-new spit test has been revealed that can reportedly help to detect breast cancer in just five secondsCredit: Getty
The spit test is a cheap and highly effective method of detecting breast cancer, according to the study
The spit test is a cheap and highly effective method of detecting breast cancer, according to the studyCredit: Getty

The kit uses sensors with similar components to a traditional glucose test that are used by diabetics to measure their blood sugar levels.

The team of scientists said the device is set to be a low-cost alternative to things like mammograms or ultrasounds that are currently used to detect breast cancer.

Many often find existing tests highly invasive and require having to wait on long appointment lists before they can be carried out.

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Mammogram results can take up to three weeks to come in and many ultrasound screenings take 30 minutes just to complete.

So the new spit testing device is a remarkable improvement on both the time it takes to complete a test and the long waits many face after they've been to see a doctor.

The testing time is under five seconds per sample, which makes it highly efficient

Hsiao-Hsuan WanStudy author

Hsiao-Hsuan Wan, a study author and doctoral candidate at the University of Florida, said: "Imagine medical staff conducting breast cancer screening in communities or hospitals.

"Our device is an excellent choice because it is portable - about the size of your hand - and reusable.

"The testing time is under five seconds per sample, which makes it highly efficient."

In the experiments trialling the new device, the researchers put paper glucose test strips into an antibody solution that interacts with certain proteins.

HER2 and CA 15-3 both cause breast cancer cells to begin to develop and grow at super quick rates - making it harder to treat. 

One in five breast cancer patients is HER2 positive, according to the American Cancer Society.

Experts also estimate that up to 80 per cent of people with breast cancer show elevated levels of CA 15-3.

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The team used 17 saliva samples from breast cancer patients and four others from healthy volunteers to conduct the sensational research.

Samples were then split into three separate groups - people without cancer, people with cancer that hasn't spread and those with cancer that has spread.

In the tests, one drop of saliva was placed on the test strip.

Electrical pulses were then sent to points on the device which has been built with the open-source hardware Arduino. 

The pulses then grab onto the antibodies and alter the charge of the electrode.

This then gets translated into a digital signal of cancer biomarkers. 

The tests showed who has breast cancer and who didn't with results coming in after just five seconds, says the study. 

The research group went on to say: "The simplicity of operation and the potential for widespread public use in the future, position this approach as a transformative tool in the early detection of breast cancer.

"This research not only provides a crucial advancement in diagnostic methodologies but also holds the promise of revolutionising public health practices."

We’ve created a technique that has the potential to help people all around the world

Hsiao-Hsuan WanStudy author

Dr Wan also said: "In many places, especially in developing countries, advanced technologies like MRI for breast cancer testing may not be readily available.

"Our technology is more cost-effective, with the test strip costing just a few cents and the reusable circuit board priced at $5 (£3.97).

"Ultimately, we’ve created a technique that has the potential to help people all around the world."

Despite the success, the method could face several pushbacks from regulatory bodies.

Most new medical kits and gear can take several years to actually become available to patients as you need clearance from places like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Then over in the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), also needs to clear it and make sure it can be covered by the NHS.

Breast cancer is still the most common form of cancer in the UK and the world.

The new device is much quicker than a mammogram that hospitals currently use for breast cancer screenings
The new device is much quicker than a mammogram that hospitals currently use for breast cancer screeningsCredit: Getty

Georgie English

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