Engineering a Point-of-Care Device for Multiplex Monitoring of Urinary Parameters

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common and costly healthcare issues, particularly among catheterized patients. Current diagnostic methods, such as urine cultures and dipstick tests, suffer from delayed results and limited accuracy, highlighting the need for more reliable, real-time approaches. This letter presents a proof-of-concept point-of-care device for multiplex detection of key urine parameters—pH and nitrite levels—and urine volume in catheter bags used for intermittent or long-term urinary drainage. The system integrates commercial pH and nitrite probes with an ultrasonic liquid level sensor, all of which are managed by a control unit that processes and transmits data wirelessly via Bluetooth or near-field communication. The sensors were calibrated via standard solutions and tested for stability over four days, which revealed minimal drift. The system was further validated using human urine spiked with varying concentrations of nitrites and pH. The results demonstrated reliable sensor performance and accurate detection of urinary biomarkers in real time. While the system shows promise for the early detection of catheter-associated urinary tract infections, further validation is needed to confirm its validity over standard diagnostic methods. This device offers a feasible solution for real-time, noninvasive UTI monitoring at the point of care.