No needle, no problem: Sodium test reimagined

New tech uses terahertz and sound waves to measure blood sodium without needles, offering safe, real-time monitoring through intact skin.

Scientists can now monitor sodium levels using harmless terahertz waves and sound signals, enabling on-the-spot insights for doctors and patients.

After success in mice, scientists tested the method in human hands, showing clear sodium readings without blood draws or skin damage.

Using low-energy radiation and sound, researchers bypass water interference to detect sodium changes in real time—even beneath human skin.

With this needle-free tech, sodium levels can now be checked accurately and safely, potentially transforming diagnosis for dehydration and kidney disease.

By cooling the skin and capturing optoacoustic signals, scientists noninvasively measured sodium shifts in mice and healthy human volunteers.

The novel approach lets medics monitor sodium via sound and light, promising safer care for patients with kidney, neuro or endocrine conditions.

Future versions of this tech could track sodium via body areas like the mouth—no cooling, no needles, just fast, safe diagnosis.