capillary blood sampling: what it is, how it works, why it matters

Considering how much technological innovation is impacting and shaping healthcare, it's a bit odd that so many medical and research practices remain reliant on traditional venipuncture. Anyone who works with wet blood - or has their blood taken - is aware of its limitations.

The good news is that capillary blood sampling is becoming a more practical alternative. The hurdles to its widespread adoption are being overcome, it is beginning to proliferate more widely, and its applications are becoming more useful.

Here are a few big reasons to consider capillary blood collection, especially if you weren't ready to in the past.

It's Simpler

Along with a less painful, less stressful sampling event (usually requiring only the quick prick of a fingertip), the latest methods of capillary blood collection offer generous logistical advantages. Implementing a microsampling workflow means eliminating cold chain shipping and storage, freeing up time and budget for more important and modern purposes.

It's Patient-centric

Studies show that patients and participants overwhelmingly prefer capillary blood sampling, particularly using microsampling techniques, over traditional venipuncture. That’s why capillary blood sampling is considered an important missing link in patient-centric medicine. It's more comfortable, and it allows patients greater convenience and agency, because...

It Can Happen Anywhere

With capillary blood sampling (using the latest microsampling methods), patients can forgo visits to the clinic and wave goodbye to their phlebotomists. With minimal training, almost anyone can perform basic microsampling procedures, in almost any location. This allows patients to take greater roles in their own care, and throws open old limitations not just on treatment, but on clinical trial recruitment and in numerous other areas in which blood draws used to represent impediments. It works in the jungle, and it works in the living room.

It Works

Gone are the days when capillary blood samples had to be awkwardly dripped onto special cards. Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS™) technology, the new superior method of capillary blood sampling, allows anyone to take quantitative, volumetrically accurate samples, almost as easily as if they were swabbing their ears. This eliminates the hematocrit bias that once compromised capillary blood results. Now, capillary blood samples can generate results that correlate with those from wet blood.

For those in the realms of healthcare, science, pharma, and research, it's high time to embrace the new potential of capillary blood sampling. Have a look at the latest and most useful capillary blood sampling technology, and contact Neoteryx today to get started with your own microsampling work.