Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
A Protein Suspension-Trapping Sample Preparation for Tear Proteomics by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Published on: December 1, 2023
Tear sample collection using cellulose acetate absorbent filters
Marieh Esmaeelpour1, Jun Cai, Patrick Watts
1School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Maindy Road, Cardiff CF24 4LU, UK. EsmaeelpourM@cf.ac.uk
Purpose:
To assess the use of cellulose acetate filter rods as a technique for tear collection.
Method:
The cellulose acetate rod (CR) was compared with the 'standard' glass capillary tube (CT), in a series of experiments, to assess: sample collection by collected volume size; the effect of tear stimulation on total tear protein concentration and major tear protein concentrations; and technique invasiveness.
Results:
No difference was found in concentrations for total protein, IgA (secretory immunoglobulin A), lactoferrin and lysozyme (p > 0.05) with no clinically significant increase in serum albumin to show serum leakage. Sample volume was higher for CR (p < 0.005) and sample volume increased for stimulated collection with CR (p = 0.001). Dilution effect of a stimulated sample size was reliably shown only with CR (r = -0.66, p = 0.011). Using bovine albumin standard with CR and CT, a smaller sample volume (p < 0.001) and a higher protein concentration (p < 0.001) were extracted with CR.
Conclusion:
The cellulose rod offers a suitable alternative to the glass CT. It is able to quickly absorb a sample, allowing use for a wide range of sample sizes, while being minimally invasive.
