Sampling method and system for measuring blood lactate concentrations

A kit for obtaining a sample of capillary blood from the skin of an animal to measure blood lactate concentration, the kit comprising:

• a skin treatment compound that is capable of suppressing and/or eliminating, and/or preventing, and/or blocking any sweat from an area of the skin to be lanced where a blood sample is obtained for measuring lactate in the blood sample from contaminating the blood sample;
• and
• instructions on disposing the skin treatment compound according to a predefined blood sample obtaining method wherein the skin treatment compound is disposed on the skin either before lancing the area of the skin that provides the blood sample for measuring lactate concentration or after lancing the area of skin for the blood sample but before a droplet of capillary blood forms on the skin in order to prevent contamination of the blood sample with sweat from the skin
• wherein the skin treatment compound is one of an antiperspirant or a deodorant.

A disposable, lactate sensor system for use with a handheld meter to optimize athletic training or to monitor patients for tissue hypoxia, the system comprising:

• a disposable lactate sensor configured for receiving a blood sample of capillary blood from a lanced skin area and capable of coupling with the handheld meter to measure lactate concentration in the blood sample;
• and
• a quantity of a skin treatment compound capable of suppressing and/or eliminating, and/or preventing, and/or blocking any sweat from an area of the skin to be lanced where a blood sample is obtained for measuring lactate in the blood sample from contaminating the blood sample, the quantity of the skin treatment compound being in a form for disposing onto the skin in the area to be lanced either before lancing or after lancing but before formation of the blood sample from the lanced area
• wherein the skin treatment compound is one of an antiperspirant or a deodorant.