The Lactate in Pregnancy Study (LIP)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Minimally-invasive biosensor monitoring of lactate in healthy pregnancies: a proof of concept study
IRAS ID
332026
Contact name
Abi Merriel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
ISRCTN Number
Submission number - 44131; ISRCTN38095366
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 1 months, 16 days
Research summary
Lactate is a marker which is produced by the body during exercise. It increases when a person is unwell, for example with a severe infection. We currently use it during pregnancy if we suspect a bad infection or if a woman/birthing person has lost a lot of blood around the time of birth. However, not much is known about lactate levels during labour.
Currently lactate can only be measured using blood tests, which means it is difficult to get a clear understanding of normal lactate levels during labour. Our patch works by using pin sensors which are placed on the surface of skin, similar to devices used to monitor blood sugar levels in diabetic mothers.
The patch can continuously measure the lactate levels in the interstitial fluid, a thin layer of clear fluid between cells in the skin, and send the information to a computer. The patch has been shown to be effective, and well-tolerated in a recent study of healthy non-pregnant people.
Our aim is to see if this patch works similarly in healthy pregnant women/birthing people to how it worked in non-pregnant volunteers, and to understand how pregnant women/birthing people feel about wearing the patch.
In this study we will ask up to 20 healthy pregnant women/birthing people to wear the patch and measure the lactate produced during, and after a period of gentle exercise, and compare this with lactate measured using a blood test.
If the patch works in pregnant women/birthing people and you feel it is comfortable, we will do future research to understand normal lactate in labour and how it can be used to help doctors and midwives provide better care.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
23/WS/0121
Date of REC Opinion
11 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion