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Multiplexed micronutrient, inflammation, and malarial antigenemia assessment using a plasma fractionation device
Eleanor Brindle1,2, Lorraine Lillis2, Rebecca Barney2
1Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
Plos One
|November 21, 2022
Summary
Dried blood spots (DBS) offer convenient biomarker analysis in low-resource settings. A new plasma collection disc (PCD) method improves iron status monitoring and allows simultaneous measurement of seven micronutrient biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Biomarker analysis
- Clinical diagnostics
- Public health surveillance
Background:
- Processing and storing blood samples for biomarker analysis is challenging in resource-limited environments.
- Dried blood spots (DBS) are a common method for population surveys due to ease of processing, storage, and transport.
- Current DBS methods cannot accurately measure serum ferritin, an important iron biomarker, due to red blood cell interference.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess a novel blood fractionation tool, the plasma collection disc (PCD), for biomarker analysis.
- To evaluate the concordance of biomarker concentrations from PCD, DBS, and wet plasma.
- To determine if PCD can improve iron status surveillance in low-resource settings.
Main Methods:
- A simple blood fractionation tool (PCD) was used to passively separate plasma from whole blood.
- Eighty-eight matched blood samples (PCD, DBS, wet plasma) were analyzed using the Q-plex™ Human Micronutrient 7-plex Array (MN 7-plex).
- Analyte concentrations from PCD, DBS, and wet plasma were compared for concordance and recovery rates.
Main Results:
- High correlations (>0.93) were observed between PCD and DBS eluates for most analytes, excluding ferritin.
- Plasma/PCD correlations were weaker than PCD/DBS correlations.
- Analyte recovery rates from PCD were superior to those from DBS, and PCD showed high correlation (0.85) with wet plasma for serum ferritin.
- The PCD method, combined with the MN 7-plex assay, enables simultaneous measurement of all seven biomarkers, including serum ferritin.
Conclusions:
- The plasma collection disc (PCD) offers a promising alternative for biomarker analysis in low-resource settings.
- PCD improves upon DBS by enabling accurate serum ferritin measurement, enhancing iron status surveillance.
- The PCD method, when used with the MN 7-plex assay, allows for comprehensive simultaneous measurement of seven key biomarkers.
