Transdermal suctioning technique for serial sampling of interstitial fluid in newborn infants.
OVERVIEW: Use of a suction-induced epidermal mini-erosion for serial sampling of dermal interstitial fluid (IF) in 16 newborn infants with gestational age ranging from 24 to 42 weeks is reported. RESULTS: The mini-erosion formed reproducibly and electron microscopy showed that the split was located within the epidermis. IF was sampled serially by suctioning during 1-3 days without signs of stress or pain. IF sample volumes (10-50 microl) did not decrease with time. Glucose values in IF and blood were correlated (r(s) = 0.542; p = 0.000). IF glucose was lower than blood glucose on all 3 days. The epidermis regenerated within 4 +/- 0.9 days (mean, SD) after sampling was terminated. There were no complications. CONCLUSION: Serial transdermal sampling was performed without stress or pain in newborn infants. Systemic and temporal differences between glucose measured in IF and blood were observed.