Shorter time to diagnose heart attacks

THE time needed to diagnose heart attacks has been dramatically reduced thanks to a new test developed by Singapore researchers.

Researchers at A*Star's Institute of Microelectronics IMF announced the test yesterday. It cuts the sample preparation and analysis time-typically six hours-to just 45 minutes. This can help doctors arrive at the right diagnosis for timely medical intervention, making a difference between Hfe and death.

The test is also less invasive as it uses only a finger prick amount of blood.

Typically, to diagnose heart attacks, patients are put through an electrocardiogram (ECG) first. If an abnormal ECG cannot be established, blood tests are made. The IME-developed silicon-based system uses very small semi-conducting wires to detect specific cardiac biomarkers that are released into the blood when the heart is injured.

Conventional biochemical method-ELI-SA, uses fluorescent labelling technology, which is laborious and time consuming. The new method also claims to be a thousand times more sensitive than similar test kits available on the market.

"The test kits can be rapidly deployed, and tests to confirm clinical diagnosis can be completed within short time frames. As the kits are deployed on-site as opposed to a central laboratory, confirmation of condition is rapid without the need to transport patients' specimens," said Philip Wong, senior consultant at the Singapore National Heart Centre.