Recently it has been shown that chemical markers in exhaled air/breath can provide a methodology for the detection of tuberculosis infection. These markers consist of methyl phenylacetate, methyl p-anisate, methyl nicotinate and o-phenylanisole (2-methoxybiphenyl). Current approaches utilise gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) which are useful for centralised testing of breath samples. The World Health Organization (WHO) require a portable, non-invasive diagnostic tool for the screening of tuberculosis infection. In order to meet this, we demonstrate proof-of-concept for the analytical sensing of the identified chemical markers in aqueous solutions using electrochemical based technology. We demonstrate that screen-printed electrochemical sensors can be used as the basis of a diagnostic tool for the electrochemical breathprinting of chemical markers (methyl nicotinate and 2-methoxybiphenyl) useful for the screening of tuberculosis infection. It is hoped that further development will facilitate the potential for a portable, hand-held, non-invasive breath diagnostic tool to be realised.
screen-printed electrodes; electrochemistry; mycobacterium tuberculosis; electrochemical breathprints
