FAQs

The Saliva Glucose Biosensor is the first pain-free, non-invasive replacement for finger-prick blood glucose testing. 

The biosensor itself is a small, disposable strip that a person can use to test glucose levels in saliva.

The organic strip emits an electronic signal to a smart device, which then displays the individual’s glucose reading, replacing the need for painful finger-prick blood testing.

Our innovative technology will free people living with diabetes from having to use painful and invasive blood monitoring devices to manage their condition, giving them a better quality of life.

No, the Saliva Glucose Biosensor is completely non-invasive, so no needles are involved.

Glucose exists in saliva in minute quantities. The biosensor has been scientifically proven to detect glucose at concentrations of 100 times lower than current blood measuring devices and hence has the ability to accurately detect glucose in saliva.

When the Saliva Glucose Biosensor interacts with glucose in saliva, an electrochemical reaction is initiated in the biosensor strip, which produces an electrical signal directly related to the amount of glucose present in the saliva. This measurement is then converted into a saliva glucose reading and displayed by a digital app.

The Saliva Glucose Biosensor was invented by scientists at the Centre for Organic Electronics at The University of Newcastle, Australia.

For more information on the Centre click here.

Yes. The Saliva Glucose Biosensor has been the subject of the following publications:

•  ‘Detection of saliva-range glucose concentrations using organic thin-film transistors’, D. Elkington, W. J. Belcher, P. C. Dastoor, and X. J. Zhou, Applied Physics Letters 105,043303 (2014)

• ‘Printable organic thin film transistors for glucose detection incorporating inkjet-printing of the enzyme recognition elements’, D. Elkington, W. J. Belcher, P. C. Dastoor, and X. J. Zhou, Applied Physics Letters 106, 266301 (2015)

The Biosensor has also been granted two patents: US patent 9766199, US patent 10978653, and China patent ZL201380022888, both expiring in 2033.

Yes. The Saliva Glucose Biosensor technology is patent protected and clearly described in the following two granted patents: US patent 9766199 and

China patent ZL201380022888, both expiring year 2033.

The Saliva Glucose Biosensor is non-invasive, meaning that no needles are involved.

Blood glucose monitoring conventionally involves finger pricking multiple times a day. For a person with diabetes, the traditional daily monitoring process is not only painful but can be exhausting, disruptive, frustrating, frightening and consuming, which may lead to poor adherence to daily testing requirements and increases diabetes related complications.

The Saliva Glucose Biosensor will free people living with diabetes from having to use painful and invasive blood monitoring devices to manage their condition, giving them a better quality of life.

People living with diabetes test their glucose levels by pricking their fingers multiple times daily. This is the only approved method by regulatory agencies to measure glucose in order to adjust patient treatment. CGM is a different method which is also invasive, and it is not licensed by regulatory agencies for this purpose.

Because of this, CGM devices are not directly comparable to the Saliva Glucose Biosensor.

CGM requires the insertion of a glucose sensor into the subcutaneous tissue layer of skin which detects glucose in the interstitial fluid. The devices are generally worn for about one week and still require regular calibration through conventional blood glucose detection (finger-pricking), about twice a day. Additionally, glucose levels in interstitial fluid change at a slower rate than plasma glucose, which can be a restriction to their effectiveness, particularly if glucose levels are changing rapidly. Subcutaneous glucose levels also have a time lag compared to blood glucose measurements, and measurements may not always match blood glucose.

CGM results should be considered in conjunction with blood glucose measurements for glycaemic assessment and therapy adjustment in all patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Whereas the Saliva Glucose Biosensor is intended to be non-adjunctive to blood glucose testing for diabetes treatment decisions.

In contrast to CGM, the Saliva Glucose Biosensor is pain-free, convenient and non-invasive. It is intended to replace finger-prick blood testing, enabling patients to adjust their treatment according to their glucose readings. Additionally, through the digital app software, patients can store and send results to carers, receive dietary advice in real-time to improve their quality of life.

IBS Inc. has commenced the development of a pilot research and development program to include tumor markers, immunological tests, hormones and other biochemical tests.

Click here to learn more.

Yes. The Saliva Glucose Biosensor is being developed for people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and for all glucose measuring / monitoring.

The Saliva Glucose Biosensor is being developed and is not a registered medical device in any jurisdiction. Prototypes of the Biosensor are currently being manufactured in Australia using modified reel-to-reel printing technology. This technology allows manufacturing to scale at an affordable price.

The Saliva Glucose Biosensor is currently at advanced stages of development.

IBS Inc. owns the exclusive license to introduce and launch the Biosensor Platform, including its first diagnostic test the Saliva Glucose Biosensor, in the following countries within the Asia Pacific region: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor L’Este, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam.

For further enquiries, submit an query here.

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