51¶¯Âþ

A quick and easy way to check your cholesterol levels with a single-use
sensor has been hatched by Panasonic of Japan (EP 1150118). The sensors are made
by screen-printing silver electrodes onto a plastic base. The electrodes are
overprinted with an enzyme layer and sealed under a plastic skin with a small
hole in it. A drop of blood placed on the sensor is sucked through the hole by
capillary action. Any cholesterol reacts with the enzyme on the electrodes,
changing its resistance. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the
current flow between them is directly proportional to the amount of cholesterol
in the blood.