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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Hollow Microneedle-based Sensor for Multiplexed Transdermal Electrochemical Sensing
Published on: June 1, 2012
Evaluation of an electrochemical sensor for measuring blood ketones
H A Byrne1, K L Tieszen, S Hollis
1Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Hope Hospital, Salford, U.K.
Objective:
To evaluate the performance of a hand-held ketone sensor that is able to measure blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HBA) concentrations within 30 s in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and patients who attend a weight management clinic.
Research Design And Methods:
Two groups of patients were studied: 19 patients admitted with DKA and 156 patients attending a weight management clinic. Paired capillary and venous whole blood samples were measured using the ketone sensor and also using an enzymatic laboratory reference method.
Results:
The ketone sensor accurately measured beta-HBA concentrations in patients with DKA (limits of agreement -0.9 to + 1.0 mmol/l) or starvation-induced ketonemia (limits of agreement -0.5 to +0.5 mmol/l).
Conclusions:
This ketone sensor accurately measures whole blood beta-HBA concentrations within 30 s.
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