Chinese scientists have developed a breath analyzer that can monitor diabetes in real time by measuring acetone levels in exhaled breath.

The study, led by the Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, was published online earlier this year.

“Real-time accurate identification and quantification of biomarkers in exhaled gas is an effective way to achieve rapid, non-invasive diagnosis and long-term monitoring of human metabolic status,” the research paper states, adding, “In order to make breath analysis more widely used in clinical applications, accurate, stable, and portable testing instruments are essential.”

The team used the device to perform breath analysis — considered a rising non-invasive tool for future clinical use — on over 2,400 breath samples collected from 26 subjects. The device’s performance was consistent with that of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the “gold standard” for measuring chemical concentrations in scientific research.

However, compared to GC-MS machines, which typically weigh around 100 kilograms and can take up to an hour to produce results, this new device weighs less than 5 kilograms and can reportedly deliver readings in just one second.

In addition, the device offers greater stability and accuracy compared to lighter breath analyzers currently under development, such as those that rely on metal oxide gas sensors.

Each human breath contains more than 3,000 tiny molecules known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). By measuring these biomarkers, healthcare specialists can track a person’s metabolic state and achieve faster diagnoses without the need for needles or scans.

In China, breath tests are commonly used to measure nitric oxide for detecting asthma and other airway inflammations, and to monitor carbon dioxide levels for identifying Helicobacter pylori infections, associated with ulcers and stomach cancer.

The breath analyzer in the study specifically measures acetone, a byproduct released when people with Type 1 diabetes are unable to produce insulin and must break down fat for energy instead of sugar. The compound, when exhaled, is often described as having a sweet smell akin to decaying apples.

This new method uses an optimized version of cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS), an optical technique that detects trace gases by measuring the rate at which laser light decays as it reflects within a gas-filled chamber.

To improve accuracy, researchers replaced the analyzer’s traditional filter with a flexible, porous carbon membrane, reducing interference from water vapor in exhaled breath.

China has the largest diabetic population in the world, with over 148 million people affected. Among them, around 600,000 have Type 1 diabetes and must rely on frequent finger-prick tests or subcutaneous sensors for continuous blood glucose monitoring.

The study’s researchers say breath acetone analyzers are “highly likely” to replace invasive daily blood glucose tests, offering a safer and more convenient way to support long-term diabetic care.

The device has already been approved as an “innovative medical device” by China’s National Medical Products Administration, according to domestic news outlet The Paper. This designation grants the analyzer priority in future clinical review processes.

In 2014, Japan’s Toshiba Corporation announced a prototype for a compact breath analyzer, alongside aims to study breath acetone levels as an indicator of fat metabolism for diet optimization.

Commercial production was scheduled for 2015, but no public information exists to confirm whether the product ever reached the market.

Editor: Tom Arnstein.

(Header image: Visuals from VCG and @中科院之声 on Weibo)