Wearable wrist device tracks metabolites via sweat

Worn on the wrist, the tracker could be used to monitor key chemical markers including glucose and lactose in athletes or military personnel. These metabolites can indicate flagging performance or potential health issues, enabling trainers or health professionals to intervene. The device, which includes a replaceable strip that contacts with the skin, can also measure temperature and pH.

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"For this proof-of-concept study, we tested sweat from human participants and monitored for glucose, lactate, pH and temperature," said Michael Daniele, an engineering professor at North Carolina State University and co-corresponding author of a paper on the work, published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

"The device is the size of an average watch but contains analytical equipment equivalent to four of the bulky electrochemistry devices currently used to measure metabolite levels in the lab. We've made something that is truly portable, so that it can be used in the field."