When we learn about dry blood spot cards, the common question is, "how accurate is this"?
But...
When we hear the phrase "blood sample collection,"…
We immediately envision someone inserting a big needle into our veins. Ouch!
Yes, most people equate a blood test with pain and discomfort.
And, vein sampling dry blood spots (the one described above) could be painful, but did you know there's a better, more convenient, and almost painless way to collect patient blood samples?
It's called finger-prick sampling. This blood sample collection method allows you to collect your blood specimens independently in the comfort of your home.
However, not all finger-prick sampling methods are created equal.
Most labs use the traditional dry blood spot cards, while at Lab Me, we use our flagship PSM System. PSM stands for the plasma separation membrane. In our PSM system, you'll use our patented, FDA-approved device to collect dry blood within a protective cartridge.
So what's the difference? What are the drawbacks of blood spot cards? And how our lab PSM system resolves those issues? Let's find out.
The drawbacks of traditional dry blood spot sampling
The concept and use of dried blood spot testing date back more than 50 years.
The process works like this.
You'll use a finger stick to collect one or two drops of blood from the end of your finger and place the blood on a filter paper. Now let it dry in the open air for some time before shipping it back to the clinical Lab. Typically, one drop of blood is enough to test 100 different analytes.
While this process is more convenient than arterial sampling and requires a nominal amount of blood, it is NOT without drawbacks.
Depending on the humidity level in your area, the drying could take hours. So, you may have to wait hours before you can ship the dried blood sample back to the Lab for testing.
Even worse, long exposure to outside air could contaminate the blood specimen.
Also, blood spot cards are not exactly a slam dunk to use! A layperson may need some training before they can execute the process of collecting blood on a filter paper the right way.
How our lab PSM system resolves those issues
Our patented, FDA-approved blood sample collection device comes with an enclosed cartridge that helps collect and dry the blood sample within minutes.
Also, the procedure is simple enough for anyone to self-collect their blood specimens at home.
All you need is to open the device, lance your fingertip, apply four drops of blood on the application surface inside the device, wait for 3 minutes, and then close the device.
That's it. Your dried blood spot sample is now ready for shipping.
As you can see, this process saves more time on blood sample collection and drying. We use a desiccant on the application surface, which helps dry out the blood specimen faster.
This also reduces contamination risks to your blood samples, thanks to limited exposure to the outside air.
Our patented, FDA-approved device has helped streamline the dried blood sample collection method for good.
When doing finger-prick blood tests, consider the dry blood spot testing cards above.
