A refractometry-based glucose analysis of body fluids.

In principle, refractometry appears to be a suitable method for the measurement of glucose concentrations in body fluids (such as blood and the intercellular fluid), even though the refractive index of the measured samples, as an additive property, is not specific. But, if certain conditions are fulfilled, the glucose content can be calculated using the refractive index in combination with values from a further measurement. This study describes the determination of the glucose content using refractometry in human blood serum derivates, which were selected - due to their ready availability - to be used as a model for interstitial fluid.

On the suitability of refractometry for the analysis of glucose in blood-derived fluids.

Background: Refractometry is the determination of the optical refractive index of a substance or a mixture of substances. It is a very sensitive method for the detection and quantification of dissolved analytes, but it is incapable of distinguishing between different analytes. The aim of this investigation was to determine the principle suitability of refractometry for the quantification of glucose (blood sugar) in blood and various blood fluids which can readily be obtained for medical diagnosis, in particular blood plasma, blood serum, and their ultrafiltrates.

New artificial oxygen carriers made of pegulated polymerised pyridoxylated porcine haemoglobin (P(4)Hb).

Oxygen-carrying plasma expanders are designed for use as iso-oncotic 'blood substitutes' to combat oxygen deficiencies caused by blood loss. In contrast, a hypo-oncotic artificial oxygen carrier can be added to existing blood - as a 'blood additive'. It has potential therapeutic use for deficiencies of oxygen which are not entailed by blood (volume) lack, and can therefore not be treated by a 'blood substitute', e.