Progesterone and β-hCG Determination Using an Electrochemical Combo-Strip for Pregnancy Monitoring

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry
• Point-of-Care Diagnostics

Background:

• Ectopic pregnancies significantly contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality globally.
• Early detection of pregnancy complications is crucial for reducing adverse outcomes.
• Current diagnostic methods can be time-consuming and costly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an effective and high-performing electrochemical strip for simultaneous determination of progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
• To create a cost-effective and rapid diagnostic tool for early detection of pregnancy-related complications.

Main Methods:

• Development of an electrochemical strip utilizing disposable electrode arrays.
• Optimization of two immunosensing approaches for simultaneous hormone detection.
• Modification of working electrodes with IgG anti-β-hCG and anti-progesterone antibodies.

Main Results:

• Achieved quantitative detection of progesterone and β-hCG within approximately 1 hour.
• Demonstrated high sensitivity with limits of detection of 1.5 × 10⁻² ng/mL for progesterone and 2.45 IU/L for β-hCG.
• Validated reagent-saving procedures and cost-effective disposable electrodes.

Conclusions:

• The developed electrochemical combo-strip offers a promising solution for rapid, simple, and on-site analysis of key pregnancy hormones.
• This technology has the potential to be developed into a point-of-care diagnostic tool for early identification of pregnancy complications.
• Facilitates timely intervention, potentially reducing maternal morbidity and mortality associated with conditions like ectopic pregnancy.