microsampling in preclinical research

Preclinical researchers use microsampling to help refine their blood collection techniques in an effort to use a less invasive method on all animal laboratory species. Microsampling blood collection methods can be used with mice and other species including rats and other rodents, dogs and non-human primates for toxicokinetic evaluations.

Microsampling improves animal welfare programs and reinforces the principles of the 3Rs: Replace, Reduce, Refine. Labs can refine their microsampling methods to reduce the number of mice they use in toxicology studies and toxicokinetic evaluations. For example, you can perform a series of micro-sized blood collections on the same mouse with less impact vs. more invasive sampling methods that only allow you to collect 1-2 time points per animal.

To achieve the principles of the 3Rs in animal research, including better animal safety and lowered stress on animals. Other top drivers include greater data consistency and cost savings.

A primary barrier can be that a lab's clients performed their bioanalytical validation prior to their in-vivo studies with a different type of technique (e.g., wet blood in tubes) and they do not want to run another validation or develop a new method of analysis to adopt a new collection device or to switch to a dry matrix technique during their project development. To help overcome this barrier, Trajan Microsampling provides technical advice on using dried matrices and support in conducting bridging studies.

The first step in transitioning from other sampling methods to microsampling is an introductory, initial education phase, which may take about 4 weeks. The next steps involve evaluation and validation. The Neoteryx Microsampling Team and Technical Director can provide support through all the steps:

Education: The introductory phase 

Evaluation: Extraction, linearity & signal-to-noise studies

Validation: Validating your method

See our Microsampling User Guide for details.

Volumetric microsampling enables the extraction of various analytes. The Technical Resource Library details analytes evaluated with Trajan microsampling devices. To find specific information, enter your analyte of interest in the Library's search field. 

Published research demonstrates that dried capillary whole-blood microsamples of 10, 20, or 30 µL provide reliable extraction and analysis. These samples produce high-quality data comparable to venous blood. The literature includes case studies of microsampling in preclinical research. For more information, visit the Technical Resource Library to review comparative studies on microsampling applications.