A Pilot Clinical Study to Investigate the Human Whole Blood Spectrum Characteristics in the Sub-THz Region

TL;DR

This pilot clinical study explores the THz spectral properties of human whole blood, revealing individual variability and identifying triglycerides and red blood cells as key factors influencing absorption characteristics.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the spectral features of human blood in the sub-THz region and identifies specific blood components affecting THz absorption.

Findings

Significant inter-individual variability in blood THz absorption (~15%)

Triglyceride levels negatively correlate with THz absorption

Red blood cell concentration negatively correlates with THz absorption

Abstract

We have conducted a pilot clinical study to not only investigate the THz spectra of ex-vivo fresh human whole blood of 28 patients following 8-hours fasting guideline, but also to find out the critical blood ingredients of which the concentration dominantly affects those THz spectra. A great difference between the THz absorption properties of human blood among different people was observed, while the difference can be up to ~15% of the averaged absorption coefficient of the 28 samples. Our pilot clinical study indicates that triglyceride and red blood cell were two dominant factors to have significant clinically defined negative correlation to the sub-THz absorption coefficients.