A simple and disposable sweat collector

Abstract

Apart from in cystic fibrosis, where sweat analysis provides valuable diagnostic information, sweat yields remain an overlooked biological fluid. Technical problems (dilution, condensation, contamination, evaporation, etc.) linked to currently available collection procedures are of concern and thwart their use. To overcome some of these technical difficulties, an original sweat-collection technique is described. A collection capsule is created inside a flexible, adhesive and disposable anchoring membrane pasted onto the skin. A fluid-tight window is positioned in the upper part of the pocket and gives access to its content. Through the collection window, complete emptying of the sweat collector can be achieved repeatedly by suction using a vacutainer tube inserted in a tube holder equipped with a long dull needle. With prior addition of a suitable marker, fractional samplings can also be performed using a precision micropipette. This collecting method allows for kinetic studies on sweat rate and sweat content. The limited bias-inducing manipulations linked to the described technique, coupled with the ease of performing kinetic studies on sweat volume and content, make this original tool a reliable and accurate sweat-collection technique.

The detection and measurement of interleukin-6 in venous and capillary blood samples, and in sweat collected at rest and during exercise

“…To extract the sweat, the patches were then centrifuged and the spun and sweat was collected in a sterile tube (Marques-Deak et al 2006;Sarno et al 2001). It is possible that the resultant sweat available for analysis contains some contamination from the absorbent pad and may give rise to false positive or false negative results (Brisson et al 1991). In the present study, this issue was circumvented by allowing the sweat to pool during the collection period before aspiration, thus negating any potential contamination from collection pads (Boysen et al 1984).…”

“…The previously published disposable sweat collection method was used to obtain sweat samples (Brisson et al 1991). Briefly, on a clean working surface using gloved hands, a sweat patch consisting of laboratory film paper (Parafilm, American Can Co.) was attached to the adhesive side of a sterile wound dressing (Opsite, Smith & Nephew) to form a collection chamber once applied to the skin surface.…”

‘My Sweat my Health’: Real Time Sweat Analysis Using Wearable Micro-fluidic Devices

“…However, this method has been found to generate results with a high coefficient of variation, and attention has moved to sweat collection patches or capsules [7]. For example, a disposable sweat collector developed by Brisson et al consisted of a capsule, created inside a flexible adhesive membrane pasted onto the skin [8]. The collected samples were then stored at low temperatures for subsequent analysis in the laboratory.…”

Bio-sensing textile based patch with integrated optical detection system for sweat monitoring

“…The method has been found to generate results with a high coefficient of variation, which has lead to the development of sweat collection patches or capsules [22]. For example, a disposable sweat collector developed by Brisson et al consisted of capsule, created inside a flexible adhesive membrane pasted onto the skin [23]. These collected samples are then stored at low temperatures for later analysis in a laboratory.…”