Analyzing sweat and saliva to detect chemical levels in patients with chronic or infectious diseases

Pilot Study to Evaluate Substances in Sweat, Saliva, and Blood

Observational City of Hope Medical Center · NCT04160429

This study is testing if new home methods for measuring medication levels in sweat and saliva can work as well as the standard lab tests for patients with chronic or infectious diseases.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment100 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCity of Hope Medical Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionscyclophosphamide
Locations1 site (Duarte, California)
Trial IDNCT04160429 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational trial collects and analyzes sweat and saliva samples from patients with chronic or infectious diseases who are receiving medications. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of novel home-based methods for quantifying medication concentrations in these biofluids against the established gold standard of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of plasma. Participants will provide samples using a Macroduct Sweat Collection System and complete questionnaires, with follow-up assessments conducted periodically. The goal is to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of using wearable sweat sensors for health monitoring.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients scheduled to receive specific medications for chronic or infectious diseases.

Not a fit: Patients with pilocarpine allergies or those who have difficulty understanding written English may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more accessible and non-invasive methods for monitoring medication levels in patients.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of wearable sensors for health monitoring is an emerging field, this specific approach of comparing sweat and saliva analysis to plasma concentrations is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Scheduled to receive medications including, but not limited to, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolic acid, mycophenolate mofetil, metformin or busulfan (any dose, any number of doses, any dosing frequency) as part of treatment at any time. Patients with chronic or infectious diseases can participate
* Willingness to:

  * Provide blood, sweat, and saliva samples
  * Permit medical record review

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pilocarpine allergy
* Difficulty with understanding written English

Where this trial is running

Duarte, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Chronic DiseaseInfectious Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.