A biomonitor is a device used to measure the concentration of a specific biomarker in a sample of body fluid, typically blood or urine. The biomarker may be a protein, hormone, metabolite, or other molecule that is indicative of a particular physiological state or disease. Biomonitors are used in research and clinical settings to assess the health status of an individual and to monitor the efficacy of treatments.
Biomonitors can be classified into two broad categories: those that measure concentrations of analytes in body fluids and those that measure concentrations of analytes in tissues. In general, biomonitors that measure concentrations in body fluids are less invasive and more convenient to use than those that measure concentrations in tissues. However, body fluid-based biomonitors may not provide accurate measurements of tissue-based analytes.
The most common type of biomonitor is the blood test, which measures the concentration of an analyte in blood plasma or serum. Blood tests are often used to diagnose diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; to monitor the progress of these diseases; and to evaluate the efficacy of treatments for these conditions. Other types of biomonitors include urine tests, saliva tests, hair analysis, sweat tests, breath tests, and stool tests.
Urine tests are generally less invasive than blood tests and can be used to screen for many different diseases and conditions. For example, urine testing is often used to detect kidney damage caused by diabetes or high blood pressure. Saliva testing can be used to assess stress levels or drug use; hair analysis can reveal exposure to heavy metals or other toxic substances; sweat testing can identify certain genetic disorders; and breath testing can diagnose lung diseases such as asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).