Patient-orientated metered capillary blood collection

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Diagnostics
• Laboratory Medicine

Background:

• Accurate laboratory analysis relies on precise sample collection.
• Traditional blood collection methods can be complex and require trained personnel.
• Point-of-care testing necessitates user-friendly and reliable sample acquisition devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel collector bottle for automated blood sample metering.
• To evaluate the device's efficacy in simplifying laboratory blood analysis.
• To explore the potential applications of this blood collection technology.

Main Methods:

• A collector bottle with a precision-moulded top was designed for automatic blood metering.
• Capillary blood was obtained via finger-prick.
• The metered blood was mixed with a diluent for subsequent laboratory analysis.

Main Results:

• The device successfully enabled patients to obtain samples for analysis.
• The collector bottle facilitated accurate measurements for full blood counts, glycosylated haemoglobin, and blood glucose.
• The automated metering process ensured consistent sample volumes.

Conclusions:

• The collector bottle offers a simplified and automated approach to capillary blood collection.
• This device has demonstrated successful application in patient self-collection for key laboratory tests.
• The technology shows promise for widespread adoption in clinical diagnostics and point-of-care settings.