Swiss Researchers Build a Two-Strand DNA Test for Serotonin

Lausanne, Switzerland, 6 November 2026 – Researchers at the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have built a prototype test strip that detects serotonin using two strands of synthetic DNA. In research announced on 5 November, the team found working pairs for three of the four small molecules it examined. Only serotonin was demonstrated on a strip with a result that could be seen without an instrument.

For Asian diagnostics developers and investors, the experiment offers a way to investigate targets that are difficult to measure with simple test strips. It separates the job of catching a molecule from the job of making that capture visible. The team has shown that the design can work in the laboratory; it has not shown that it can measure serotonin reliably in patient samples or replace an established clinical test.