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A Metabolomics Approach for the Potential Characterisation of Salivary Fatigue Biomarkers for Roadside Testing by Police
Thesis   Open access

A Metabolomics Approach for the Potential Characterisation of Salivary Fatigue Biomarkers for Roadside Testing by Police

Aaron J Hamilton
Masters by Research, Murdoch University
2022
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Abstract

Automobile drivers--Testing Saliva--Examination Biochemical markers--Research
Fatigue, the term used here to describe the physical and mental consequences arising from periods of total sleep deprivation, negatively impacts an individual's ability to focus and reliably complete tasks. Thus, fatigued individuals pose a risk in many circumstances, of note fatigued drivers are at an increased risk of causing a motor vehicle accident. Unlike with other contributing factors to motor vehicle crashes, like drug use and speeding, there is currently no legally and scientifically defensible method available to detect fatigued drivers. The discovery of a biomarker of fatigue, particularly one present in saliva, has a high potential to form the basis of a test that police could incorporate into random roadside testing to combat the danger posed by fatigued drivers. Some potential biomarkers of fatigue have been identified but none of these potential biomarkers are well suited for such a test. Thus far a metabolomics approach has not been applied to the search for a salivary fatigue biomarker. Such an approach would be well suited to identify biomarkers with the potential to be used in a roadside test however there are a number of factors that need to be considered in designing a metabolomics experiment for this purpose, including diet, circadian rhythms, medications and physical activity.

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