When a person wants to conceive, understand hormone changes related to menopause, or monitor recovery from athletic performance, the route typically goes through a doctor and on to laboratory tests. Soon, however, measurements of hormones such as cortisol, estrogen and testosterone could be performed at home, as viable technology for rapid testing has emerged. The methods developed at VTT are now attracting the attention of companies.
Hormones regulate vital body functions such as metabolism, mood and sleep. Hormonal balance is influenced by lifestyle, stress, sleep and life stages. Home measurement of hormone levels now appeals to those concerned about their health or fertility, as well as athletes seeking insight into their performance and recovery.
"People want to take a greater role in managing their own well-being. Previously, however, most tests have required complex and expensive laboratory analysis. Typically, monitoring hormonal health calls for more frequent testing, which makes traditional methods very costly for both consumers and healthcare systems," says Christina Liedert, Research team leader at VTT.
VTT has developed methods that enable rapid, accurate measurement of small but biologically and environmentally important molecules, such as hormones and toxins, using simple, rapid tests. One approach is based on lateral flow assay (LFA) test strips, which produce a result within a few minutes.
"For example, testosterone levels can now be tested using a stick resembling a pregnancy test, where the intensity of the line that appears correlates with the hormone level," Liedert says.
In addition, home tests based on electrochemical measurement are being developed, such as finger-prick tests similar to those for blood glucose monitoring. Both solutions rely on antibody-based detection.
The method is suitable for:
- Rapid hormone testing. For example, quick measurement of testosterone levels without a laboratory.
- Healthcare diagnostics. For example, faster and more accurate analysis of patient samples.
- Detection of environmental toxins. For example, detecting harmful chemicals in water or soil.
- Food safety
The detection method relies on antibodies
The antibody-based method makes measurement more sensitive, more accurate and easier to perform without complex laboratory equipment. At the same time, it opens possibilities for widespread use, for example, in healthcare, environmental monitoring and consumer home tests.
The detection method is based on so-called immunocomplex antibodies, which recognise the complex formed when a small molecule binds to its corresponding antibody. Molecules can be detected in, for example, saliva or, in some cases, even sweat.
"Our antibody team can develop targeted antibodies for different hormones. We have patented the immunocomplex antibody principle and offer companies R&D services for the development of novel antibodies and diagnostic tests," Liedert notes.
VTT's pilot line environment for medical devices accelerates companies' development work
Last year, VTT opened a pilot production environment in Oulu to support medical device product development. The aim is to offer design review, development support, and small-scale production as a service to national and international companies for the verification of product candidates.
Production-scale equipment and documentation compliant with medical device standards help companies progress along the commercialisation pathway. The pilot line helps turn laboratory experiments more quickly into viable, regulatory-approved products that can advance towards broader use in healthcare and consumer markets.
Pilot line services for medical devices:
- Provides an established, regulated environment for medical devices
- Enables the manufacture of small test batches
- Supports prototype development in compliance with industrial quality requirements
- Reduces the need for large initial investments
- Accelerates product development
- Lowers costs
Continuous measurement challenges researchers
A hot topic in research circles is the continuous measurement of hormonal and metabolic biomarkers. Both consumers and, for example, defence sector players would like ever more precise, even real-time data from their smartwatches and other measurement devices.
“As an example, one overlooked diagnostic need for quite some time is women’s health. There is a need for continuous, non-invasive monitoring that could reliably show trends, responses to lifestyle changes, or medication effects. However, for the time being, available rapid tests are single-use and do not provide the health insight needed. The topic is being actively researched, and the next breakthrough could be just around the corner!" Liedert says.
Eager to learn more?
Would you like to hear more about how the pilot line or new testing technologies could accelerate your product development?
Get in touch – we are happy to arrange a discussion or a tailored demonstration to review solutions from your industry and products perspective.
Further information:
- Learn more about immunocomplex antibody-based testing. Read the article!
- Read more about the Oulu pilot line environment. Read the press release!
- Medical device pilot | VTT Research
Further information: Christina Liedert
Meet our expert
Christina Liedert is Research Team Leader for Medical devices at VTT. She holds a PhD in biotechnology, and over the past 15 years her work has focused on developing biosensors for healthcare applications and environmental monitoring. She gained hands-on experience in medical device regulation and manufacturing at Screentec Ltd, an Oulu-based contract manufacturer of medical electrodes and diagnostics, where she worked in business development. In her current role at VTT, Liedert focuses particularly on solutions for point-of-care diagnostics. Her goal is to advance easy-to-use and cost-effective technologies that respond to the growing needs of healthcare. Healthcare costs are rising almost everywhere, and new solutions are therefore needed for personalised and predictive monitoring.
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