Development of a diagnostic dehydration screening sensor based on infrared spectrometry

The clinical assessment of dehydration is highly subjective and requires experienced and highly trained clinical personnel. At present no objective method for quantitatively determining an individual´s dehydration status exists. The aim of this study is to address this deficiency by presenting the development and testing of a novel diagnostic tool for dehydration detection based on infrared spectrometry. Laboratory testing and two clinical studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the device in both adults and infants. The results were promising for the infant study with a clear trend exhibited. However, a number of challenges must be overcome before this sensor can be applied in a clinical setting.