Three diagnostic developments bring more accessible biomarker sources to the fore

The detection of biomarkers has long been established as a cornerstone of diagnostics, physiological assessment and the long-term monitoring of diseases. However, for the vast majority of indications, blood has ruled supreme as the source media in which to investigate these biomarkers. Recent technological developments have dramatically improved the sensitivity of diagnostic tests, improving our ability to detect biomarkers that may be present in lower concentrations in more accessible bodily fluids such as sweat. Further developments have improved the utilization of non-molecular properties, such as vocal recordings, as biomarkers. Here, we review three bleeding-edge developments in this sphere – all...