The longer a coronary artery is blocked the more heart muscle dies. Early diagnosis of a heart attack is thus critical. A phrase often heard among cardiologists is “time is muscle”.

Currently electrocardiograms (ECGs) and blood tests are used to diagnose heart attacks. Unfortunately, ECGs are not always accurate and blood tests can take up to eight hours to become abnormal after a heart attack starts.

A new way to diagnose a heart attack within fifteen minutes may come from your saliva. Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin recently developed a technique to use several drops of saliva on a specially designed micro-chip. An abnormal test result can not only diagnose a heart attack but also predict your risk of having one in the future.

LabNow, Inc is developing this exciting new technology.