Long ago, science provided every consumer with a simple, reliable, and cost effective method for early detection of a human pregnancy. Decades later, we can't tell if the metalworking fluid system we are standing in front of at has deteriorated without the application of multiple time consuming tests. Engineers at Texas A&M are diagnosing malaria with cell phones converted into polarized microscopes (Reuters). Honestly, which is more complicated? That may change soon. On August 22, 2014, Illinois Tool Works, Inc. filed a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office entitled METAL WORKING FLUID COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF DETECTING FLUID DETERIORATION (Appl. No. 14/466320). The basic concept of the invention is to introduce chemical ingredients to the system that produce color changes in response to changes in the system pH. The specification (text of the patent) contemplates responses to other commonly monitored parameters, but the reduced to practice invention disclosed (described application of the concept) is for pH changes beyond acceptable limits. Cool idea.