Validation of Mitra^® VAMS^® as a blood collection technique for trace elements analysis using ICP-MS/MS

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Traditional venipuncture for blood collection has limitations and is not suitable for all individuals.
• Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) is emerging as a less invasive alternative with potential advantages.
• Accurate quantification of toxic and essential elements in blood is crucial for clinical dosage and monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a method for quantifying elements in whole blood using VAMS.
• To assess the performance of VAMS compared to established reference methods.
• To evaluate VAMS as a potential alternative to venipuncture for trace element analysis.

Main Methods:

• Development and validation of a quantification method using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS).
• Analysis of whole blood samples collected via VAMS.
• Comparison of VAMS results with a reference method using whole blood samples.

Main Results:

• The developed VAMS method demonstrated accurate and reproducible quantification for most targeted elements.
• Validation and performance assessment confirmed the reliability of the microsampling technique.
• Results showed strong agreement with the reference method, indicating high precision and accuracy.

Conclusions:

• VAMS shows significant potential as a viable alternative to venipuncture for blood sampling in trace element analysis.
• The microsampling technique offers a less invasive and more accessible approach for certain elemental analyses.
• Further studies are warranted to fully establish VAMS for routine clinical use in elemental diagnostics.