We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Dried Blood Spot Used to Screen for Clinical Conditions

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 30 Nov 2011
A rapid method can be used to simultaneously screen patients for a range of genetic and acquired clinical conditions from a single dried blood spot.

Collection of dried blood spots is less invasive for patients and the costs and biohazards associated with sample transport, processing, and storage are minimized. More...
The test uses mass spectrometry, a highly sensitive and specific technique, to simultaneously analyse proteins, enzymes, and metabolites in the blood, without the need for the large liquid blood samples currently used.

The test works by converting proteins to peptides and then using a mass spectrometer to select and accurately measure diagnostic metabolites and/or peptides. Liquid blood and urine samples can also be screened using the method.

Scientists have built on their innovative approaches to dried blood spot screening for inherited metabolic disease and sickle cell disease in newborn babies. This approach can now be used in the early detection and clinical monitoring of chronic health problems, including kidney and heart disease, and diabetes.

A spin-out company, SpotOn Clinical Diagnostics Ltd (London, United Kingdom) was launched by King's College London (United Kingdom) to provide both analytical services and technical support for other clinical laboratories, many of which already have appropriate mass spectrometry instrumentation, to offer this new method.

The new blood spot analysis method has many potential applications including screening babies for sickle cell disease and other clinically significant hemoglobinopathies; the current methods for antenatal screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia require fresh liquid blood samples, which are more expensive to process, store, and transport. The method has already been used to provide rapid diagnosis of a comprehensive range of inherited metabolic diseases in acutely ill children admitted to intensive care with life-threatening symptoms.

Presymptomatic screening for chronic health problems will introduce personalized clinical diagnostics and cost-effective early detection and monitoring of diabetes and kidney and heart disease.

The major advantages of the new method are that the measurements for proteins and metabolites can be done simultaneously with both high accuracy and sensitivity. Dried blood spots and/or dried urine spots offer significant cost savings in the logistics of sample collection, transport to the laboratory, sample processing, and storage.

Related Links:
SpotOn Clinical Diagnostics Ltd.
King's College London


Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
New
8-Channel Pipette
SAPPHIRE 20–300 µL
New
Autoimmune Disease Diagnostic
Chorus ds-DNA-G
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Immunology

view channel
Image: The test could streamline clinical decision-making by identifying ideal candidates for immunotherapy upfront (Xiao, Y. et al. Cancer Biology & Medicine July 2025, 20250038)

Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies, making immunotherapy a promising yet unpredictable option. Current biomarkers such as PD-L1 expression or tumor... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: New diagnostics could predict a woman’s risk of a common sexually transmitted infection (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Markers Could Predict Risk of Severe Chlamydia Infection

Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other reproductive complications when it spreads to the upper genital tract.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The sensor can help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes on-site in a few minutes using just a breath sample (Photo courtesy of Larry Cheng/Penn State)

Graphene-Based Sensor Uses Breath Sample to Identify Diabetes and Prediabetes in Minutes

About 37 million U.S. adults live with diabetes, and one in five is unaware of their condition. Diagnosing diabetes often requires blood draws or lab visits, which are costly and inconvenient.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.