Could a Face Mask Detect Kidney Disease?

As reported in ACS Sensors [doi:10.1021/acssensors.4c03227], researchers fitted an FFP2-style face mask with a breath sensor to detect metabolites associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In a trial including 100 participants, the mask correctly detected kidney disease 84% of the time and determined when a patient did not have kidney disease 88% of the time.

To create the breath sensor, researchers coated silver electrodes with a conductive polymer modified with porphyrins to enhance sensitivity to volatile compounds. The electrodes were placed between layers of a disposable medical face mask and connected by wires to an electronic readout. When the polymer interacted with certain gases, a measurable change of electrical resistance occurred. The sensor proved to be highly sensitive to metabolites related to CKD, including ammonia, ethanol, propanol, and acetone.

The results suggest that the sensor data might also be used to estimate CKD stage. The findings could potentially lead to cost-efficient, noninvasive monitoring of patients with CKD, the study’s authors said.

Source: American Chemical Society. Accessed May 12, 2025. https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2025/may/specialized-face-mask-can-detect-kidney-disease-with-just-your-breath.html