The early diagnosis of heart attack will now be possible using only a few drops of saliva and a new nano-bio-chip, say a recent ongoing study by the researchers in United States. Yes, the researchers at the University of Texas are developing a nano-bio-chip, which they hope will be used for advanced saliva testing.

According to the researchers, the nano-bio-chip assay, the size of a credit card, could be used to analyse a patient's saliva on board an ambulance, at the dentist's office or at a neighbourhood chemist's shop, helping save lives and prevent damage from cardiac disease.

The study was jointly conducted by the scientists and clinicians from Universities of Kentucky, Louisville, and University of Texas Health Science Centre. McDevitt and his collaborators took advantage of the recent identification of a number of blood serum proteins that are significant contributors to, and thus indicators of, cardiac disease.

The Researchers from the University Of Kentucky College Of Dentistry tested saliva from 56 people who had a heart attack and found 59 healthy subjects for 32 proteins associated with atherosclerosis, thrombosis and acute coronary syndrome.
 
John T McDevitt, designer of the bio-chip, said, "Many heart attack victims, especially women, experience non specific symptoms and secure medical help too late after permanent damage to the cardiac tissue has occurred. Our tests promise to dramatically improve the accuracy and speed of cardiac diagnosis."