A simple and rapid quantitative sweat test based on cobalt chloride color change

Background: Existing sweat tests are either cumbersome, require dedicated technical equipment and/or do not give reliable quantitative results. The present study was performed to develop and describe a rapid and simple test for a practical and quantitative evaluation of sweating. Methods: Cobalt chloride patches were used to collect sweat during exercise and after application of aluminum hydrochloride. Color change from blue to red was recorded and quantified, and the amount of sweat was calculated from a standard curve. Results: Cobalt-chloride-containing patches evaluated with standard office equipment provide a rapid, simple and highly sensitive method for the quantitative measurement of sweating. Conclusions: Possible applications that need to be evaluated in further studies are the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases associated with disordered sweat production and the evaluation of antiperspirants.