Can your breath reveal diseases?

Utilizing nanoparticle biomarker tagging technology, Ancon Medical has developed a non-invasive and portable device that can detect genetic biomarkers in a person's exhaled breath. Unlike other breath analyzers, however, Ancon says its device is able to find these DNA-protein controlled volatile organic compounds in much lower concentrations—as low as one ion in 10,000 cubic centimeters.

In laboratory tests the breath analyzer has been effective in detecting early-stage lung cancer and tuberculosis.

"No matter what the disease, an early diagnosis will always give medical professionals the advantage of a head start in treatment, isolation and prevention," said Wesley Baker, president of Ancon Medical, in a press release. "The difference can be measured in better treatment, lower cost and most importantly, saved lives."