London - An artificial ‘nose’ can sniff out the bacteria that cause blood poisoning.
The device uses odour-detecting sensors to test for the lethal bugs in 24 hours rather than the usual 72, a difference that could save many lives.
Researchers hope it will be used to prevent sepsis, a condition that causes the immune system to overreact to infectious bacteria. An estimated 20 to 35 percent of victims of severe sepsis die.
The device consists of a small plastic bottle that contains a chemical sensing array or “artificial nose”.
A blood sample is injected into the bottle, which also contains a nutrient solution that helps bacteria to grow rapidly.
The growing bacteria release odours that are detected by sensors. Dots of pigment on the “nose” change colour depending on which bacteria are present, alerting doctors to danger.
It could be used in developing countries, researcher Dr James Carey, of Taiwan’s National University of Kaohsiung, said. - Daily Mail