'I was like, this is gonna hurt': Implementing self-sampling of dried blood spots to measure HIV viral load

In a pilot mixed-methods study of youth with HIV, mailed HemaSpot-HF kits enabled home-based dried blood spot collection that participants found feasible and acceptable, supporting remote viral load monitoring and a self-management model for decentralised care.

An Examination of Perceptions and Usage of Dried Blood Spot Biosampling Technology for HIV Viral Load Collection Among Youth with HIV — Gurung et al., AIDS and behavior (paywalled) · source ↗

• blood
• dried
• dbs
• self-collection
• acceptability
• dct
• serology

A study of older rural US patients found that 96 to 98 per cent of self-collected dried blood spot specimens were successfully analysed for HIV viral load, with high acceptability. However, concordance between self-reported and measured viral load was only 69 to 82 per cent, highlighting the value of objective decentralised microsampling over self-reporting.

Acceptability and Feasibility of Self-Collected Dried Blood Spot Specimens for Viral Load Monitoring among Rural Older People Living with HIV — Walsh et al., AIDS and behavior (paywalled) · source ↗

• dct
• acceptability
• blood
• dbs
• self-collection
• dried
• serology

Among 154 volunteers, 85% found HemaSpot HF self-sampling acceptable, but correlation with venous blood for anti-tetanus toxin IgG was moderate (r = 0.73) and sensitivity varied from 70% to 100% depending on the cut-off value, with concentration differences widening at higher IgG levels. The device requires further improvement before it can reliably replace venous puncture for decentralised serological testing.

Feasibility of blood self-sampling with HemaSpot HF for Anti-Clostridium tetani Toxin IgG detection — Kettlitz et al., Scientific reports · source ↗

• blood
• dried
• dbs
• self-collection
• venous-agreement
• acceptability
• serology

Among people who inject drugs, point-of-care HCV testing was preferred over dried blood spot collection and venepuncture because rapid results reduced anxiety. The study shows that for decentralised screening, non-judgemental care and assisted collection are critical acceptability factors, even when self-collection is available.

Acceptability of hepatitis C testing using point-of-care testing and dried blood spot collection among people at risk of hepatitis C infection — Stevens et al., The International journal on drug policy (paywalled) · source ↗

• blood
• dried
• dbs
• self-collection
• acceptability
• serology

The study found that DBS testing showed high specificity for HIV, HBV and HCV and perfect sensitivity for HIV and HBV, but lower sensitivity for syphilis and HCV, with creatinine measurements slightly higher than venous samples. Despite challenges in sample adequacy, DBS was acceptable to participants and could support decentralised STI and renal monitoring in men who have sex with men.

Use of Home-Based Self-Collected Dried Blood Spots to Test for Syphilis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis C and B Virus Infections and Measuring Creatinine Concentration — Nieuwenburg et al., Sexually transmitted diseases · source ↗

• blood
• dried
• dbs
• self-collection
• venous-agreement
• acceptability
• serology
• sti