Researchers at the University of Cincinnati, US have developed a portable "lab-on-a-chip" device that offers a rapid, objective method to assess stress and mental health risks by measuring cortisol levels from saliva. This innovative device consists of a disposable saliva collector and a handheld reader that transmits the results to a smartphone in minutes.Unlike conventional mental health questionnaires that rely on self-reporting, this device provides biochemical data, allowing clinicians to make timely and accurate mental health interventions. It also has potential applications beyond stress detection, such as identifying cardiac biomarkers like troponin, which could aid in diagnosing heart attacks.The device, developed by UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Distinguished Research Professor Chong Ahn and his team, was recently featured in the journal Biomedical Microdevices. The study highlights how elevated cortisol levels can indicate chronic stress and mental health disorders like anxiety and depression, even in patients who do not report feeling stressed in standard assessments.Doctoral student Supreeth Setty is further exploring how another hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), interacts with cortisol. Research indicates that a high cortisol-to-DHEA ratio is a potential marker for chronic stress, making it a critical factor for clinicians in diagnosing mental health conditions.The device’s user-friendly design enables patients to conduct the test themselves and share results with doctors via a smartphone app. This point-of-care testing approach not only facilitates quicker interventions but also reduces the subjectivity associated with mental health assessments.Beyond mental health, UC researchers are investigating the device’s potential to detect heart conditions. In another study published in Analytical Chemistry, the team developed a blood test to measure cardiac troponin levels. Elevated troponin levels indicate heart damage and could signal a heart attack in progress. The researchers aim to use this rapid test to monitor troponin levels in heart attack survivors, potentially preventing subsequent cardiac events.UC doctoral graduate Vinitha Thiyagarajan Upaassana, a lead author of the study, emphasizes the significance of immediate test results in critical care settings. “The test provides immediate results, which is vital when a patient is in need of urgent care,” she said.The research was partially funded by UC’s Technology Accelerator Project, and the team plans to collaborate with psychiatrists to conduct clinical trials to validate the platform’s effectiveness in real-world scenarios.If successful, the lab-on-a-chip technology could revolutionize mental health and cardiac care by providing rapid, point-of-care biochemical tests that deliver immediate, actionable data to clinicians.