Bilirubin sensor

1. A bilirubin sensor comprising:

a working electrode with a first chemical matrix disposed thereon, the first chemical matrix containing a binder wherein the first chemical matrix is capable of oxidizing all oxidizable species in a fluid sample;

a substrate electrode with a second chemical matrix disposed thereon, the second chemical matrix containing a binder and a chemical agent that consumes bilirubin wherein the second chemical matrix is capable of oxidixing all oxidizable species in the fluid sample except bilirubin;

a reference electrode; and

a sample chamber containing the working electrode, the substrate electrode and the reference electrode.

2. The bilirubin sensor of claim 1 wherein the chemical agent is an oxidoreductase of bilirubin.

3. The bilirubin sensor of claim 2 wherein the oxidoreductase of bilirubin is bilirubin oxidase.

4. The bilirubin sensor of claim 1 wherein the first chemical matrix and the second chemical matrix contains a chemically oxidizing reagent.

5. The bilirubin sensor of claim 4 wherein said chemically oxidizing reagent is a redox mediator.

6. The bilirubin sensor of claim 4 wherein the chemically oxidizing reagent is selected from the group consisting of potassium ferricyanide, sodium ferricyanide, ferrocene, ferrocene derivatives, cupric sulfate, hexaamineruthenium (III) chloride, hexaamineruthenium (III) chloride derivatives, and osmium complexes.

7. The bilirubin sensor of claim 1 wherein the bilirubin sensor is an amperometry-based sensor.

8. The bilirubin sensor of claim 1 wherein the first chemical matrix and the second chemical matrix includes one or more reagents selected from the group consisting of a bulking agent, a surfactant and a buffer.

9. The bilirubin sensor of claim 8 wherein the buffer has a pH in the range from about 5.0 to about 8.5.

10. The bilirubin sensor of claim 1 wherein the binder includes one or more chemical reagents selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrolidone, starch, methylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxy methyl cellulose, and polyamino acids.

11. A bilirubin sensor comprising:

a working electrode with a first chemical matrix disposed thereon, the first chemical matrix containing a whole blood filtering component wherein the first chemical matrix is capable of oxidizing all oxidizable species in a fluid sample;

a substrate electrode with a second chemical matrix disposed thereon, the second chemical matrix containing a whole blood filtering component and a chemical agent that consumes bilirubin wherein the second chemical matrix is capable of oxidixing all oxidizable species in the fluid sample except bilirubin;

a reference electrode; and

a sample chamber containing the working electrode, the substrate electrode and the reference electrode.

12. The bilirubin sensor of claim 11 wherein the chemical agent is an oxidoreductase of bilirubin.

13. The bilirubin sensor of claim 12 wherein the oxidoreductase of bilirubin is bilirubin oxidase.

14. The bilirubin sensor of claim 11 wherein the first chemical matrix and the second chemical matrix contains a chemically oxidizing reagent.

15. The bilirubin sensor of claim 14 wherein said chemically oxidizing reagent is a redox mediator.

16. The bilirubin sensor of claim 14 wherein the chemically oxidizing reagent is selected from the group consisting of potassium ferricyanide, sodium ferricyanide, ferrocene, ferrocene derivatives, cupric sulfate, hexaamineruthenium (III) chloride, hexaamineruthenium (III) chloride derivatives, and osmium complexes.

17. The bilirubin sensor of claim 11 wherein the bilirubin sensor is an amperometry-based sensor.

18. The bilirubin sensor of claim 11 wherein the first chemical matrix and the second chemical matrix includes one or more reagents selected from the group consisting of a bulking agent, a surfactant and a buffer.

19. The bilirubin sensor of claim 18 wherein the buffer has a pH in the range from about 5.0 to about 8.5.