What is next for dried blood spots?

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biotechnology and Bioanalytical Chemistry

Background:

• Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling has gained renewed interest in the pharmaceutical industry for drug discovery and development.
• Despite advancements, widespread adoption for pharmacokinetic studies is hindered by ongoing evaluations and unanswered questions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically assess the current state of DBS technology in pharmaceutical research.
• To compare recent findings with the initial projected advantages of DBS.
• To identify practical challenges and suitable applications for DBS in drug development.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent scientific literature and industry evaluations of DBS technology.
• Analysis of strengths, weaknesses, and practical challenges associated with DBS implementation.
• Identification of specific study types where DBS offers a favorable benefit:risk ratio.

Main Results:

• DBS technology presents significant potential but faces practical hurdles for broad application in drug development.
• Recent data provide a clearer understanding of DBS capabilities and limitations compared to initial projections.
• Certain study types demonstrate a strong benefit:risk profile for DBS implementation.

Conclusions:

• Further research and discussion are needed to define the future role of DBS in pharmaceutical studies.
• Addressing practical challenges is crucial for the wider acceptance and application of DBS.
• DBS sampling offers a viable microsampling technique for specific pharmaceutical research areas.