Conexiant
Login
  • The Analytical Scientist
  • The Cannabis Scientist
  • The Medicine Maker
  • The Ophthalmologist
  • The Pathologist
  • The Traditional Scientist
The Pathologist
  • Explore Pathology

    Explore

    • Latest
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • Opinion & Personal Narratives
    • Research & Innovations
    • Product Profiles

    Featured Topics

    • Molecular Pathology
    • Infectious Disease
    • Digital Pathology

    Issues

    • Latest Issue
    • Archive
  • Subspecialties
    • Oncology
    • Histology
    • Cytology
    • Hematology
    • Endocrinology
    • Neurology
    • Microbiology & Immunology
    • Forensics
    • Pathologists' Assistants
  • Training & Education

    Career Development

    • Professional Development
    • Career Pathways
    • Workforce Trends

    Educational Resources

    • Guidelines & Recommendations
    • App Notes

    Events

    • Webinars
    • Live Events
  • Events
    • Live Events
    • Webinars
  • Profiles & Community

    People & Profiles

    • Power List
    • Voices in the Community
    • Authors & Contributors
  • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
Subscribe
Subscribe

False

The Pathologist / Issues / 2023 / Mar / Dermal (ISF) Diagnostics
Hematology Liquid biopsy Biochemistry and molecular biology Technology and innovation Hematology Molecular Pathology

Dermal (ISF) Diagnostics

Exploring the diagnostic potential and utility of dermal interstitial fluid

By George Francis Lee 03/09/2023 News 2 min read

Share

Could dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) – the material that fills the space around skin cells – be a useful diagnostic medium? The average body has three times as much dermal ISF as blood, but much of the fluid’s diagnostic power is lost due to analytic disruptions caused by its extraction (1). But are we missing out on a potentially powerful diagnostic tool? And could it one day match – or even surpass – the blood standard? A new perspective examining just what differentiates the diagnostic power of blood has sought to settle those exact questions (2).

“There have been some breakthroughs… like wearable continuous glucose meters which measure glucose in interstitial fluid under the skin,” says study author Jason Heikenfeld. “So if glucose works so well, what else can we do with interstitial fluid for chronic disease, wellness, athletes?”

Previous work has been done on ISF, but rapid technological advancements beg the question of what the future holds for its diagnostic value. “Investments are ramping up rapidly in trying to measure interstitial fluid for broad applications without fully understanding the fundamentals of the physiology and its diagnostic limits,” Heikenfeld says. “[The paper] brings together previous knowledge for the first time in a cohesive and complete framework and provides some revealing numbers for the first time that eliminate areas of interstitial fluid access that are unlikely to be fruitful, such as interstitial fluid extraction; the volumes and rates are just too tiny to work with current technology.”

Ultimately, the paper found that dermal ISF cannot currently match the diagnostic power of blood. However, the authors state that there could be benefits in using assays or sensors to continuously monitor small-molecule analytes in dermal ISF – especially when monitoring immune responses or the effects of therapies. In fact, the authors encourage further dermal ISF research in the hope that, with greater sensitivity, performance, and functionality, dermal ISF will take its seat at the molecular diagnostics table.

Newsletters

Receive the latest pathology news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.

Newsletter Signup Image

References

  1. National Library of Medicine, “Physiology, Water Balance” (2022). Available at: http://bit.ly/3kjevSW.
  2. M Friedel et al., “Opportunities and challenges in the diagnostic utility of dermal interstitial fluid,” Nat Biomed Eng, [Online ahead of print] (2023). PMID: 36658344.

About the Author(s)

George Francis Lee

Interested in how disease interacts with our world. Writing stories covering subjects like politics, society, and climate change.

More Articles by George Francis Lee

Explore More in Pathology

Dive deeper into the world of pathology. Explore the latest articles, case studies, expert insights, and groundbreaking research.

False

Advertisement

Recommended

False

Related Content

A Light in the Darkness
Liquid biopsy
A Light in the Darkness

March 4, 2022

2 min read

Spectroscopic liquid biopsy testing – a new route to brain cancer diagnostics

Biomarkers: The Bigger Picture
Liquid biopsy
Biomarkers: The Bigger Picture

April 27, 2022

1 min read

To unlock patient care, pathologists must focus on molecular pathology and ensure efficiency and effectiveness to improve testing. With this testing, patients can benefit from the best treatment to combat their disease.

Benchmarking… Liquid Biopsy
Liquid biopsy
Benchmarking… Liquid Biopsy

May 13, 2022

1 min read

A look at the last five years of publishing on liquid biopsy

Does Your Blood Know You Have Cancer?
Liquid biopsy
Does Your Blood Know You Have Cancer?

July 25, 2022

2 min read

Detection and monitoring are crucial for melanoma outcomes – could a blood test revolutionize both?

False

The Pathologist
Subscribe

About

  • About Us
  • Work at Conexiant Europe
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 Texere Publishing Limited (trading as Conexiant), with registered number 08113419 whose registered office is at Booths No. 1, Booths Park, Chelford Road, Knutsford, England, WA16 8GS.