In vitro measurements of physiological glucose concentrations in biological fluids using mid-infrared light

Mid-infrared transmission spectroscopy using broadband mid-infrared or Quantum Cascade laser sources is used to predict glucose concentrations of aqueous and serum solutions containing physiologically relevant amounts of glucose (50-400 mg/dL). We employ partial least squares regression to generate a calibration model using a subset of the spectra taken and to predict concentrations from new spectra. Clinically accurate measurements with respect to a Clarke error grid were made for concentrations as low as 30 mg/dL, regardless of background solvent. These results are an important and encouraging step in the work towards developing a noninvasive in vivo glucose sensor in the mid-infrared.