Technology designed to give athletes an advantage during competition is being rolled out at mines across Australia to improve the health of miners.

Dehydration in mines reduces worker concentration and efficiency while increasing the risk of long-term health issues, according to MX3 Diagnostics. At the same time, hydration testing at mines can be inconvenient, inaccurate and invasive. That is changing thanks to a new product designed and engineered in Melbourne, Australia, the company says.

MX3 Diagnostics says its Hydration Testing System is the world’s first electrochemical saliva analysis system that provides personalised, laboratory-grade, on-the-spot results.

Principal Research Scientist at MX3 Diagnostics, Dr Michael Erlichster, says the speed of the result is crucial to ensuring safe work environments and the health of miners.

“The hydration test strip can reliably characterise hydration in seconds,” he said. “If dehydration is identified action can be taken immediately, the result is improved health and productivity.”

Dr Erlichster says the detailed reports available through the MX3 App and MX3 Web Portal allow mine operators unparalleled access to information about how well workers are hydrated.

“It’s the world’s first low-cost and rapid way of measuring hydration with saliva,” he said.

Since launching this product in late 2019, the MX3 Hydration Testing System has been adopted at over 30 mine sites across Australia, according to the company.

“It’s important that miners who typically work long hours with heavy equipment in hot environments receive information about their health on the job in real time,” Dr Erlichster said.

MX3 Diagnostics is at IMARC Online this week demonstrating the hydration system, but, over the next 12 months, the company is looking to distribute the Hydration Testing System at mines and worksites in North America and Europe.