Evaluating the quantity, quality and size distribution of cell-free DNA by multiplex droplet digital PCR

The homeRNA capillary blood collection and stabilization platform successfully captured lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory gene expression profiles. These transcriptomic responses were comparable to those obtained from traditional venous blood samples stabilized with RNAlater or PAXgene, demonstrating the platform's suitability for remote transcriptomic monitoring.

From Home to Transcriptome: Comparing the Transcriptomic Profile of Induced Immune Response via Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation in homeRNA and Venous Blood — Brown et al., Analytical chemistry (paywalled) · source ↗

• venous-agreement
• stabilised
• blood
• capillary
• liquid
• validation
• biomarkers

A machine learning model called Remote Control was trained on 2685 blood samples to predict change due to instability, enabling accurate calibration of results to approximate the time zero value at collection. With calibration, unprocessed whole blood could be transported for up to 9 days under ambient conditions and temperatures between 3.4 and 47.4 degrees Celsius, achieving agreement with CLIA TEa between 98.1 and 100 per cent and expanding the catalog of tests available for at-home collection.

Prolonging Sample Stability with Machine Learning Expands the Catalog of Tests Available for Mail-In Capillary Blood Collected At-Home — O'Meara et al., Analytical chemistry (paywalled) · source ↗

• dct
• blood
• self-collection
• capillary
• liquid
• validation
• biomarkers

Self-collected capillary blood samples posted by standard mail showed high concordance with couriered venous samples for HbA1c, creatinine and lipid parameters, supporting their use for remote monitoring in diabetes management and screening.

Concordance of HbA1c, creatinine, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and total cholesterol between venous and self-collected capillary blood samples sent by mail — Hoffmeister et al., Journal of diabetes investigation · source ↗

• venous-agreement
• blood
• self-collection
• capillary
• liquid
• validation
• biomarkers

This developer study reports that a self-collection kit interfacing with a BD Microtainer produced RNA of sufficient quality and yield for transcriptomic analysis in a pilot group and a longitudinal rheumatology cohort. Most participants found the device easy to use, supporting its utility for decentralised blood sampling.

To the homeRNAmax: Developing an Improved Blood Self-Collection and Stabilization Platform for Remote Transcriptomic Studies — Eakman et al., Analytical chemistry (paywalled) · source ↗

• dct
• stabilised
• blood
• self-collection
• bd-microtainer
• liquid
• validation
• biomarkers

Plasma lipidomes from self-collected upper-arm capillary blood were statistically indistinguishable from paired venous plasma, most classes at r=0.95–0.99, validating at-home capillary self-collection for lipidomics.

Comparison of capillary and venous plasma lipidomes: validation of self-collected blood for plasma lipidomics — Hameed et al., J. Lipid Research · source ↗

• venous-agreement
• blood
• metabolome
• self-collection
• capillary
• liquid
• validation
• biomarkers