Three amperometric sensors based on graphite paste modified with phthalocyanine-BODIPY dye (BODIPY = boron dipyrromethene) and oleamides were designed and used for the fast assay of p53 tumor suppressor in whole blood. The limits of quantification for p53 were 2.28 ng/mL using the sensor based on phthalocyanine-BODIPY dye as modifier and 3.66 ng/mL using the sensor based on the oleamides used as modifiers. The recovery tests performed proved the suitability of these sensors for the early detection of p53 in whole blood samples. (C) 2017 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.