{"id":52477,"date":"2026-03-04T12:01:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engineering.jhu.edu\/chembe\/?post_type=news&p=52477"},"modified":"2026-03-04T14:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T19:53:08","slug":"new-glucometer-technology","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/engineering.jhu.edu\/chembe\/news\/new-glucometer-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"New Glucometer Technology Makes Disease Detection Easier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Johns\u00a0Hopkins researchers have developed a new way to\u00a0test for\u00a0infectious diseases using everyday handheld glucometers. This innovation aims to simplify the process of measuring antibody levels, making\u00a0diagnosis\u00a0more accessible, particularly in places where resources are limited.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Published in\u00a0<\/span>Sensors & Diagnostics<\/span><\/i><\/a>, this research was a collaborative effort between\u00a0<\/span>Jamie Spangler, a<\/span>ssociate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and biomedical engineering, principal author Elysse Ornelas-Gatdula, a doctoral student in the Department of Chemistry, Xinran An, a doctoral student in the\u00a0<\/span>Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and senior author Netzahualc\u00f3yotl Arroyo-Curr\u00e1s, an affiliate of the department who recently moved\u00a0his lab to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional tests that measure antibodies, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), require expensive and complex\u00a0analysis\u00a0equipment that can be difficult to access in remote or under-resourced areas. \u201cWe wanted to create a solution that could easily fit into existing health care systems,\u201d says An.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The team’s approach involves using an\u00a0engineered\u00a0antibody\u2013invertase fusion protein named LC15. This fusion protein enables\u00a0detection of disease-specific antibodies\u00a0in patient\u00a0samples, using\u00a0conversion of sucrose into glucose\u00a0as the signal output, which can be measured directly\u00a0with\u00a0affordable glucometers commonly\u00a0employed\u00a0in diabetes management.\u00a0A key innovation\u00a0of this study was the adaptation of the platform to a 96-well plate\u00a0high-throughput format that allows for parallel processing to significantly accelerate\u00a0analysis.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike traditional ELISAs, our method\u00a0provides antibody measurements\u00a0not only\u00a0at a low cost,\u00a0but\u00a0this technology\u00a0also\u00a0enables\u00a0absolute antibody quantification,\u00a0which is vital for monitoring diseases and determining treatment options,\u201d says\u00a0An.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the primary advantages of this glucometer-based ELISA platform is its simplicity and integration with telehealth systems. With handheld glucometers being widely used and FDA approved, this new method could help streamline the process of antibody testing. “We realized that by leveraging existing technology, we could significantly increase the number of tests processed without compromising accuracy,” says\u00a0Spangler. This research has important implications for areas with limited health care access. Quick and\u00a0accurate\u00a0antibody testing is essential, especially in the face of ongoing global health challenges. The goal is to not only improve individual patient care but also support community health monitoring. By\u00a0utilizing\u00a0existing technology, this glucometer platform illustrates how simple changes can lead to significant improvements in health care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

“We want to ensure everyone can access necessary medical tests, no matter where they live,\u201d says\u00a0Spangler.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This research was financially supported by\u00a0the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the Johns Hopkins University Office of the Provost, Emerson Collective, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-52477","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news_categories-faculty","news_categories-phd","news_categories-research"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNew Glucometer Technology Makes Disease Detection Easier - Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/engineering.jhu.edu\/chembe\/news\/new-glucometer-technology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New Glucometer Technology Makes Disease Detection Easier - Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Johns\u00a0Hopkins researchers have developed a new way to\u00a0test for\u00a0infectious diseases using everyday handheld glucometers. 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