Volumetric absorptive microsampling: its use in COVID-19 research and testing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Public Health
• Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic necessitated adaptations in biological sample collection methods.
• Societal lockdowns and facility access restrictions posed challenges to traditional blood sampling.
• Remote sample collection emerged as a critical solution for maintaining research continuity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of remote microsampling using VAMS technology for COVID-19 studies.
• To assess the utility of VAMS in large-scale serosurveillance and clinical trials.
• To demonstrate VAMS as a viable alternative for blood sample collection.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Mitra devices with VAMS technology for at-home blood sample collection.
• Facilitated remote shipment of collected samples to laboratories for analysis.
• Applied VAMS technology in COVID-19 serosurveillance and clinical trial settings.

Main Results:

• VAMS technology enabled high-quality sample collection for remote serosurveillance studies.
• Seroprevalence of COVID-19 was found to be higher than initially anticipated through these studies.
• VAMS facilitated research on antigen levels, antibody response, and their duration, as well as its use in clinical trials.

Conclusions:

• VAMS technology provides an effective and reliable alternative for blood sample collection.
• Remote microsampling is crucial for conducting large-scale public health studies, especially during pandemics.
• VAMS supports diverse applications, including serosurveillance, clinical trials, and understanding immune responses to COVID-19.