A paper-based biosensor for visual detection of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from whole blood

Screening for a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in red blood cells is vital for determining the potentially life-threatening presence of congenital, hereditary or induced hemolytic anemias. In this study, a "sample-to-readout" paper-based point-of-care (POC) colorimetric biosensor was developed for direct detection of G6PD in whole blood by simple visual comparison to a color card. The G6PD paper sensor was highly stable with no observable loss in performance after room temperature storage for at least 6 weeks, and worked equally well at room temperature and 37 degrees C. The simple printed paper format and the stability of the colorimetric reagents facilitates scalable manufacturing. The ability to utilize well established sample collection and preparation protocols along with a colorimetric visual readout should facilitate future transfer of this proof-of-concept POC biosensor to remote or resource-poor locations.