Identifying Hypocalcemia in Dairy Cattle By Combining 3D Printing and Paper Diagnostics

Abstract

Electrochemistry is a powerful technique for advancing point-of-care (POC) diagnostics due largely to its ease of use and compatibility with electronic readers that can be controlled by ubiquitous technology such as smartphones or tablets. Specifically, potentiometry, (i.e., the use of ion-selective electrodes) is well-suited for incorporation into POC devices for the following reasons: (i) it possesses high selectivity (through the incorporation of ionophores), (ii) it is multiplexable, and (iii) provides a fast response time. This talk will focus on the development of a paper-based diagnostic device for the identification of hypocalcemia in dairy cattle at the point-of-care. Hypocalcemia is a metabolic disorder resulting from a lower-than-normal concentration of calcium in the bloodstream and can lead to deleterious outcomes such as early herd removal or death. Diagnosis and treatment of hypocalcemia lead to increased expenses on dairy operations, where low-cost and rapid testing solutions are currently not commercially available. Our approach utilizes the highly reproducible and mass-production capabilities of 3D printing to fabricate sensors that can be incorporated into paper substrates, resulting in low-cost and reliable diagnostics devices.