Ion sensors: current limits and new trends Original Research Article

The current status of ion sensors in their main application, clinical chemistry, is highlighted. The reasons for the practical success of sensors in this particular area are discussed together with the expected influence of novel technical possibilities for the next generation of clinical ion analyzers. A series of recent research results, including the improvement of lower detection limits, the establishment of selectivities that are much better than reported so far, and new types of reference electrodes will very likely open up numerous new fields of applications of these sensors.