Ammonia Breathalyzer

A variety of metabolic processes can cause the levels of ammonia in the blood – and consequently in the breath – to become elevated. Digestive disorders, liver disorders, drug toxicity, and even strenuous exercise are all potential contributors. But current methods for measuring ammonia levels require the use of expensive equipment run by trained laboratory technicians, meaning they’re not economically viable for widespread use.

Recently, scientists discovered that an electricity-conducting polymer called polyaniline could be formed into nanoparticles and deposited in layers that are only thousandths of a millimeter thick. At that point, what was once a mere laboratory curiosity was transformed into an extremely sensitive material with a totally new set of valuable characteristics.

One of them is the ability to create a disposable sensor, similar to a glucose testing strip, which can detect ammonia in exhaled breath. Known as AmBeR®, the device is portable, highly specific (40 parts per billion by volume) and suitable for home use to replace or support clinic-based assessment. The company is currently validating the system as a diagnostic solution for a variety of ammonia specific conditions.