Researchers from the University
of Cincinnati examined the potential bio-fluids to test human health with tiny,
portable sensors. They developed wearable technology by creating the world's
first continuous-testing device that samples sweat as effectively as blood but
in a non-invasive way and over many hours. Remarkably, many of the innovations
in the field of biosensors and sweat technology were developed in Cincinnati
(i.e. the first glucose monitor for diabetes).
Now researchers identified four
waves of discovery when it comes to testing human health. First, doctors began
drawing and shipping blood to labs in an invasive, time-consuming and
labor-intensive process that patients still undergo today. After examining the
use of saliva, tears and interstitial fluid, they concluded that sweat holds
the most promise for non-invasive testing because it provides similar
information as blood and its secretion rate can be controlled and measured.
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