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Concordance of HbA1c, creatinine, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol between venous and
Linda Hoffmeister1, Christopher Schuchardt1, Angelika Hafke2
1Department of General Practice, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany.
Insights
Self-collected capillary blood tests are reliable for remote monitoring of HbA1c, creatinine, and lipids. Mailed capillary samples show high concordance with venous samples, improving access to routine health assessments.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Point-of-Care Testing
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Routine monitoring of HbA1c, creatinine, and lipids is crucial for managing chronic conditions like diabetes.
- Traditional venous blood sampling requires in-person visits, potentially limiting access for some patient populations.
- Evidence on the accuracy of self-collected capillary blood samples sent via mail, under real-world transport conditions, is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the concordance of key biochemical parameters (HbA1c, creatinine, lipids) between self-collected capillary blood samples sent by mail and concurrently collected venous blood samples.
- To compare mailed capillary samples (CMS) and mailed venous samples (VMS) against courier-transported venous samples (VCS) to assess the impact of different transport methods.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 105 participants who provided self-collected capillary blood samples using the Tasso+ device.
- Participants also provided two venous blood samples: one mailed with the capillary sample (VMS) and one sent via courier (VCS).
- HbA1c, creatinine, LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol levels were measured in all sample types.
Main Results:
- High concordance was observed for HbA1c (CCC=0.999) and creatinine (CCC=0.972) between mailed capillary samples (CMS) and courier-transported venous samples (VCS).
- Mailed venous samples (VMS) also showed high agreement with VCS for HbA1c (CCC=0.998) and creatinine (CCC=0.990).
- Lipid parameters demonstrated good concordance (CCC >0.95) across CMS and VMS compared to VCS, with low relative bias.
Conclusions:
- Self-collected capillary blood samples transported by standard mail demonstrate comparable results to venous blood samples for HbA1c, creatinine, and lipid profiling.
- Capillary self-sampling offers a reliable and accessible method for remote patient monitoring.
- This approach holds significant potential for improving diabetes management and screening accessibility.
Introduction/Aims:
Self-collected capillary blood sampling with postal shipment may improve access to routine monitoring of HbA1c, creatinine, and lipid parameters, but evidence on concordance with venous samples under real-world transport conditions remains limited. This study evaluated the concordance of HbA1c, creatinine, and lipid parameters between self-collected mailed capillary samples, mailed venous samples, and courier-transported venous samples.
Material And Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, participants scheduled for a blood draw in a general practice office self-collected a capillary blood sample using the Tasso+ device and provided additional venous blood samples. One venous sample was sent by mail (VMS) with the capillary blood sample (CMS). The other venous sample was couriered directly to the laboratory (VCS). HbA1c, creatinine, LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol were measured.
Results:
Samples of 105 participants were analyzed. High concordance was observed between CMS and VCS for HbA1c (absolute mean bias = 0.028%, relative mean bias = 0.463%, concordance correlation coefficient [CCC] = 0.999) and creatinine (absolute mean bias = 0.037 mg/dL, relative mean bias = 4.815%, CCC = 0.972). VMS showed high agreement with VCS for HbA1c (absolute mean bias = 0.028%, relative mean bias = 0.450%, CCC = 0.998) and creatinine (absolute mean bias = 0.026 mg/dL, relative mean bias = 3.320%, CCC = 0.990). Lipid parameters demonstrated good concordance for CMS and VMS compared to VCS, with relative bias values ranging from 3.0% to 5.7% and CCCs >0.95.
Conclusions:
Self-collected mailed capillary blood samples provide comparable HbA1c, creatinine, and lipid parameters to venous samples, even when sent by standard mail. Capillary self-sampling is a reliable method for remote monitoring of these parameters in diabetes management and screening.
