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The identification of diurnal variations on circulating immune cells by finger prick blood sampling in small sample
Dayna Bushell1, Jonathan Kah Huat Tan2, Jessica Smith2
1Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia.
Insights
Finger prick blood tests can detect daily changes in specific immune cells like T helper and B cells. This method offers a new approach for clinical and research settings using small blood volumes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Chronobiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Biological rhythms significantly influence human physiology.
- Routine blood testing is increasingly vital for preventative care and research.
- Optimizing blood test effectiveness is crucial for accurate health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of detecting diurnal variations in peripheral lymphocyte prevalence.
- To determine if small fingertip blood samples are sufficient for this analysis.
- To explore the potential of micro-sampling for circadian rhythm studies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized polychromatic flow cytometry to analyze lymphocyte subsets.
- Collected 25 µL fingertip blood samples from 8 participants.
- Samples were collected at two time points: 8 AM and 5 PM.
Main Results:
- T helper (TH) cells and B cells showed higher percentages in 5 PM samples.
- Natural killer (NK) cells exhibited significantly higher percentages in 8 AM samples.
- No significant diurnal changes were observed for T cells, leukocytes, or cytotoxic T cells.
Conclusions:
- Diurnal variations in lymphocyte subsets can be detected using small blood volumes.
- Fingerprick blood sampling is a viable method for assessing these circadian changes.
- This approach offers a novel, less invasive testing method for clinical and research applications.
Objective:
There are well-described impacts of biological rhythms on human physiology. With the increasing push for routine blood tests for preventative medical care and clinical and physiological research, optimizing effectiveness is paramount. This study aimed to determine whether it is feasible to assess diurnal variations of peripheral lymphocyte prevalence using finger prick blood in a small sample size.
Methods:
Using polychromatic flow cytometry, the prevalence of lymphocytes was assessed using 25 µL fingertip blood samples at 8 AM and 5 PM from 8 participants.
Results:
TH cells and B cells showed significantly higher percentages in the 5 PM samples, whereas NK cells demonstrated a significantly higher morning percentage. T cells, leukocytes, and cytotoxic T cells showed no significant changes.
Conclusion:
The detection of diurnal variations demonstrates that small blood volumes can be used to detect lymphocyte variations. The lower blood volume required provides a new testing method for clinical and research settings.
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