The venipuncture sampling method remains the norm for sampling in most instances, though alternatives to venipuncture are becoming more popular for many reasons.

If you've visited a doctor’s office or clinic for a blood test, you know that it's not always a pleasent experience. As part of a physical or as a follow-up to a specific diagnosis and treatment, the needle appears, followed by a search for a vein. After a few uncomfortable seconds, a vial of your blood is removed, and you head home to await the results and sip cranberry juice.

Even though there are specific situations in which plasma derived from venous blood is not the best option for diagnosis, treatment, or therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) - some tests, such as blood gas analysis, are better performed on arterial or capillary blood specimen - venous plasma remains the "golden standard" for clinical applications. But it's no longer the only technique you need to know about.

Some resource-rich countries are unable to use the wealth from natural resources to drive their economic growth. The term “resource curse" was first used by Richard Auty in 1993 to describe the phenomenon, but it has been vigorously debated since the 1950s and 1960s.

Some of the geographical areas that most enrich the world are low-resourced regions in terms of essentials on hand for the welfare of their own people.

Mitra microsampling technology is the next logical step after conventional DBS (Dried Blood Spotting). It's a simplified method for drawing blood samples for analysis. The process can be self-administered from any location, through a process that is generally simpler and less expensive than working with conventional venous blood samples.

Phlebotomy (blood draw) is still among the most widely used invasive procedures in healthcare. Despite its myriad useful applications in drug development, diagnostic, treatment monitoring, and disease prevention, traditional blood sampling is not without risks. Even at its best, drawn blood volumes often far exceed the volumes needed for the actual analysis.