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by Florian Lapierre, PhD, Microsampling Product Director on Aug 17, 2026, 12:24:51 PM
In this article, we will cover the following key takeaways:
- How Microsampling reduces sample volume while maintaining high precision.
- Enables at-home, patient-friendly collection without needles or cold-chain shipping.
- Supports a wide range of analytical techniques and sample types (blood, plasma, urine, skin).
- Streamlines lab workflows and integrates with automation for reliable results.
For decades, clinical and research bioanalysis relied on conventional, large-volume sample collection, from milliliters of venous blood drawn via needle to surgical tissue biopsies.
While effective, these methods are often invasive, anxiety-inducing, and complex, increasing cost and friction for patients, researchers, and laboratories.
Microsampling is changing this landscape. By collecting and analyzing much smaller volumes—often 30 µL or less—microsampling eases patient burden while maintaining the precision needed for scientific and clinical work.
Neoteryx by Trajan advances microsampling beyond volume reduction to a patient-focused approach. Its portfolio includes the Mitra® device for blood and the Harpera™ microbiopsy tool—offering convenience, reproducibility, and scientific rigor.
Part 1: Patient-Centered Sampling – Comfort Meets Convenience
Microsampling isn’t just about smaller volumes; it’s about making sample collection safer, faster, and easier for people.
Comfort Without Compromise: For blood collection, microsampling replaces venipuncture with a simple finger prick, similar to a blood glucose test. This method is virtually painless, with some studies reporting mean pain scores as low as 0.8 out of 10.
For tissue, the Harpera™ microbiopsy tool enables nearly painless, scarless, and suture-free collection, offering an alternative to punch biopsies for specific assays.
Freedom Through At-Home Collection: Microsampling empowers individuals to collect samples remotely, alone or with a caregiver, directly from home.
Devices like Mitra® are designed for ease of use, allowing users to visually confirm when a precise volume has been collected.
This contributes to high sample acceptance rates (up to 99%) and transforms what was once a stressful event into a simple, convenient process.
Efficiency Without the Cold Chain: Many samples collected in dried formats, such as VAMS® tips or DBS disks, can remain stable (dependent on the analyte) at ambient temperature for many days.
This eliminates the need for expensive cold-chain logistics, allowing samples to be mailed directly to the lab via standard postal services.
The result? Reduced operational cost, simpler logistics, and greater scalability for large studies or routine monitoring programs.
Part 2: Scientific Precision – Designed for Data Integrity
For laboratories and clinical researchers, microsampling must deliver accurate, reproducible data while simplifying workflow. Neoteryx devices are engineered to meet these demands.
Volumetric Accuracy: Solving Hematocrit Bias
Traditional dried blood spots (DBS) often vary due to hematocrit-related biases, compromising accuracy. Advanced volumetric microsampling devices overcome many of these challenges:
- Mitra® with VAMS® collects a fixed, precise volume (10–30 μL), unaffected by hematocrit variations.
Expanding the Sample Matrix: Skin and Tissue
Microsampling isn’t limited to blood. The Harpera™ microbiopsy tool enables minimally invasive collection of skin tissue for molecular and biomarker research and is provided globally as an Investigational Use Only (IUO) product. This opens new avenues for dermatological and translational research. Seamless Automation and Workflow Integration:
- Workflow Efficiency: Mitra® samples are compatible with automated processing systems and robotics (e.g., Mitra 96-Autorack), reducing manual steps like aliquoting and punching.
In Summary
Microsampling, championed by Neoteryx by Trajan, combines patient-first design with high-precision engineering.
From the volumetric Mitra® device for biological fluids to the minimally invasive Harpera™ tool for tissue, these technologies improve data quality, lower operational costs, and provide a comfortable, convenient experience for patients and research participants alike.
As healthcare evolves toward decentralization and patient-centered care, microsampling stands at the intersection of comfort, convenience, and scientific rigor, making it an essential tool for modern clinical research and diagnostics.
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