A University of Liverpool-led research team has developed a groundbreaking saliva-based test for detecting paracetamol overdose. Using a tiny drop of saliva on paper, the innovative technique, called paper-arrow mass spectrometry (PA-MS), offers faster and more efficient results compared to current clinical tests.
With over 100,000 paracetamol overdose cases reported annually in the UK, early detection is vital. N-acetylcysteine treatment is highly effective but time-sensitive, requiring administration within eight hours. Saliva was identified as the preferred sample, with testing conducted in collaboration with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Dr Simon Maher from the University of Liverpool described PA-MS as a significant advance for point-of-care testing, with potential applications in clinical diagnostics beyond overdose detection.
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