Cumulative Measurement of an Analyte

摘要

A method of monitoring the level of an analyte such as glucose in a subject comprises repeated steps of extracting a quantity of the analyte from the subject into a sample, for example using reverse iontophoresis, then measuring the concentration of the analyte with a method that depletes the analyte. Whereas known methods aim to deplete the analyte fully between extraction steps, the present method allows the concentration to build up with each cycle and measures successive changes in concentration. The higher concentrations present permit more reliable measurements to be made. The sample may be primed with an initial quantity of the analyte.

主权项

1. A method of monitoring the level of an analyte in a subject, comprising the steps of:
(a) measuring the concentration of the analyte in a sample; (b) introducing into the sample a quantity of the analyte that is representative of the level of analyte in the subject; (c) re-measuring the concentration of the analyte in the sample; (d) determining the level of the analyte in the subject based on the difference between the measurement of concentration in step (c) and the previous measurement of concentration; and (e) repeating steps (b) to (d) at intervals to generate a sequence of determinations over time.