Evaluation of a Field Expedient Technique for Sweat Sample Collection

This series of laboratory experiments was conducted to evaluate a potential field expedient sweat collection technique (polyethylene arm bags) and to observe the Sweat rate and electrolyte losses of human sweat glands during thermal stimulation. The development of the methodology in this report has...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Armstrong, Lawrence E, Matthew, William T, Szlyk, Patricia C, Hubbard, Roger W, Sils, Ingrid V
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Anatomy and Physiology
ARMS(ANATOMY)
ASS10
BAGS
BODY TEMPERATURE
COLLECTING METHODS
CONCENTRATION(COMPOSITION)
ELECTROLYTES(PHYSIOLOGY)
EXCRETION
HUMANS
HUMIDITY
LABORATORY TESTS
PE61102A
PERSPIRATION
POLYETHYLENE
POTASSIUM
RECTUM
SKIN(ANATOMY)
SODIUM
STIMULATION(GENERAL)
SWEAT GLANDS
Test Facilities, Equipment and Methods
THERMAL PROPERTIES
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Summary:This series of laboratory experiments was conducted to evaluate a potential field expedient sweat collection technique (polyethylene arm bags) and to observe the Sweat rate and electrolyte losses of human sweat glands during thermal stimulation. The development of the methodology in this report has resulted in a technique that offers: (1) a clean skin surface prior to sweat sample collection; (2) a known skin surface area inside the arm bag, (3) quantitative recovery (97.3%) of sweat electrolytes, and (4) sweat electrolyte concentrations which agree well with values reported by other laboratories. Polyethylene arm bags were found to induce changes in the local forearm microenvironment (when compared to OPEN arms); increases in skin temperature, relative humidity, sodium excretion, and potassium excretion were observed. In spite of these changes in local microenvironment, this technique is useful as a relative measure by day-to-day (or hour-to-hour) changes in sweat collection techniques, such as large sample size, ease of use and field portability. Measurements such as sweat electrolyte losses during exercise in the heat, or sweat rates during heat acclimatization, are feasible with this technique. Keywords include: sweat rate; sweat electrolytes; sodium; potassium; skin temperature; rectal temperature; relative humidity; body surface area.