fast, accurate clinical trial monitoring with remote sampling

Clinical trial monitoring is an essential process of drug development. It is the stage where developed drugs are tested on human subjects to determine if they are effective.

To get to this point, subjects for the trial must be recruited and trained. During the training period, subjects are informed about what to do and avoid during the clinical trial period. Subjects are under constant monitoring that involves testing various elements of their bodies. This includes but is not limited to blood, urine, stool, and/or saliva. Trials that require frequent blood-drawing can be inconvenient and may put the subject’s health at risk.

Due to the amount of time and money that goes into clinical trial monitoring, scientists develop a clinical trial monitoring plan that maps the entire process. Monitoring subjects in clinical trials also ensures the trials are conducted, recorded, and reported according to established plans and guidelines.

On-site monitoring is conducted to ensure the subjects’ rights and well-being are protected, the data presented is accurate, and the entire process is compliant with regulatory requirements.

Because of subject retention issues, it’s vital to make clinical trials smoother for both the scientists and the test subjects. With microsampling, clinical trial monitoring is easier. Some trials don’t need subjects on-site. With remote sampling as an option, the clinical trial monitoring process becomes easier, faster, and less costly.

Remote Sampling and Remote Clinical Monitoring: How It Works

Remote sampling is a process in which subjects take specimen samples at home, then send them to the test centers. Minimal interruptions in subjects’ lifestyles have resulted in lower subject dropouts and more diligent adherence to sponsor protocols. The cost of clinical trials decrease because:

• Cost of travel for subjects is reduced
• The heavy investment going into clinical trial-site audit is no longer needed
• There are different types of monitoring visits in clinical trials for every test subject; remote sampling reduces the number of on-site monitoring visits

Remote sampling has made the clinical trial process faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective. With additional advancements in remote technology, we can anticipate greater strides forward for virtual clinical trials and telemedicine.