Empiricism in Microsampling: Utilizing a Novel Lateral Flow Device and Intrinsic Normalization to Provide Accurate and Precise Clinical Analysis from a Finger Stick

摘要

BACKGROUND: Phlebotomy plays a key role in clinical laboratory medicine but poses certain challenges for the patient and the laboratory. Dried blood spots simplify collection and stabilize specimens effectively, but clinical reference intervals are based primarily on serum or plasma. We evaluated use of dried separated blood plasma specimens to simplify plasma sample collection via finger stick; however, this sampling technique posed substantial analytical challenges. We discuss herein our efforts to overcome these challenges and provide accurate and precise clinical measurements.