LASER PHOTOACOUSTIC DETERMINATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL GLUCOSE-CONCENTRATIONS IN HUMAN WHOLE-BLOOD

A glucose concentration analysis of human whole blood samples has been accomplished using pulsed laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LAPS). Us ing a CO2 laser operating with muJ pulse energies, the technique has s hown the required discrimination and sensitivity to determine glucose concentrations within the physiological range (18-450 mg dl-1) in whol e blood samples. The sensitivity achieved with this system is comparab le to that of the existing commercial enzyme-based diagnostic systems presently used in hospital clinical chemistry environments. The techni que is compared with other optical methods that have recently been use d for glucose determination, and its applicability for use in the deve lopment of an in vivo monitor is discussed.