Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Bacterial Detection & Identification Using Electrochemical Sensors
Published on: April 23, 2013
Electrochemical Diagnostics for Bacterial Infectious Diseases
Amruta A Karbelkar1, Ariel L Furst1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States.
Abstract:
Bacterial infections are urgent threats to human health, especially in light of rising rates of antibiotic resistance, and their ubiquity demands the development of efficient diagnostic platforms. Electrochemical biosensors for point-of-care testing are garnering interest due to their speed, sensitivity, and selectivity as well as their inexpensive, user-friendly operation. These biosensors have the potential to make significant commercial and clinical impacts. In this Viewpoint, we discuss recent advances in the electrochemical detection of pathogenic bacteria using both direct and alternating current. We focus on platforms that detect whole microbes, as these sensors are specific, fast, and easy to operate.

