Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
14:32
Real-time Analyses of Retinol Transport by the Membrane Receptor of Plasma Retinol Binding Protein
Published on: January 28, 2013
Retinol-binding protein stability in dried blood spots
Masako Fujita1, Eleanor Brindle, Jane Shofer
1Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-3100, USA. masakof@u.washington.edu
Clinical Chemistry
|October 24, 2007
Summary
Retinol-binding protein (RBP) in dried blood spots (DBS) is stable for several weeks at room temperature, enabling accurate vitamin A status assessment in remote locations.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Nutritional Science
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Retinol-binding protein (RBP) serves as a key biomarker for assessing vitamin A (VA) status.
- Dried blood spots (DBS) offer a convenient method for collecting and storing blood samples.
- The stability of RBP in DBS under various storage conditions was previously unexamined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the stability of RBP in DBS.
- To determine the feasibility of using RBP in DBS for vitamin A status assessment in challenging field conditions.
Main Methods:
- Laboratory analysis of RBP stability in DBS subjected to different temperatures and durations.
- Field study in northern Kenya comparing RBP in DBS with serum retinol levels.
- Statistical analysis of correlation, sensitivity, and specificity.
Main Results:
- RBP in DBS remained stable for 2-4 weeks at 30°C in laboratory settings.
- DBS samples stored under field conditions (12°C-28°C) showed stability for 2-6 weeks.
- Good correlation between RBP in DBS and serum retinol indicated potential for accurate VA deficiency prediction.
Conclusions:
- RBP in DBS is stable under relatively high ambient temperatures.
- This method facilitates accurate vitamin A status assessments in resource-limited settings.
- DBS offers a viable alternative for VA status monitoring where serum collection is impractical.
