Rapid quantification system for zinc in blood serum

Pediatric septic shock is a major health problem in the United States, with 42,000 cases annually and an approximate 10% mortality rate. Studies have shown that pediatric septic shock patients regularly have critically low levels of serum zinc (Zn), suggesting oral supplementation of Zn as a therapeutic strategy. To protect patients, it is exceedingly important to monitor blood serum concentration of Zn during supplementation in order to ensure normal physiological levels and watch for heavy metal toxicity due to over supplementation. Current quantification methods typically involve the use of external laboratory facilities and turnaround times ranging from hours to days. This paper presents an improved Point-of-Care device centered on a three electrode Cu based sensor that uses Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (ASV) for rapid electrochemical measurement of Zn in serum. This next-generation device incorporates two major improvements over those presented previously - an evolution to a single printed circuit board (PCB) design, and the incorporation of automated concentration detection. The sensor is able to produce quantification results in approximately 6 minutes.