Peer-Delivered HIV Self-Testing, Sexually Transmitted Infection Self-Sampling, and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for Transgender Women in Uganda: A Randomized Trial

The study found that self-collection of dried blood spots and other samples using at-home kits was a useful and cost-effective method for screening a large cohort for sexually transmitted infections outside a clinic. This demonstrates the feasibility of decentralised, patient-centric sampling for population-level infectious disease surveillance.

Prevalence of chlamydial, gonococcal and syphilis positivity by anatomical site and sex via self-collected biospecimens using at-home testing kits among a large and diverse cohort of men and women enrolled in the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) in the USA — Mimiaga et al., Sexually transmitted infections (paywalled) · source ↗

• blood
• sti
• dbs
• self-collection
• dried
• serology
• bd-microtainer
• urine

This pilot study demonstrated that a fully remote web-based testing programme for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections was feasible and acceptable overall, although participants encountered specific collection challenges with the dried blood spot component.

Comprehensive at-home sexually transmitted and blood borne infection (STBBI) testing program: A pilot study — Christensen et al., International journal of STD & AIDS · source ↗

• blood
• urine
• dried
• dbs
• self-collection
• acceptability
• sti

In a study of 46 perinatal nicotine users, dried blood spots and saliva were used weekly to measure reproductive hormones, finding that lower postpartum estradiol and greater peripartum declines in oxytocin were associated with increased nicotine craving and use. This demonstrates the feasibility of decentralised microsampling and remote surveys for longitudinal hormone tracking in vulnerable populations.

Exploring hormonal influences on nicotine craving and use across the perinatal period: A prospective longitudinal study — Allen et al., Drug and alcohol dependence reports (paywalled) · source ↗

• dct
• blood
• dbs
• cortisol
• self-collection
• dried
• fertility
• hormones
• saliva

This study demonstrated that a fully remote genome sequencing study using self-collected dried blood spots and buccal swabs is feasible for individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome, with all participants completing the study and reporting the process was easy despite being lengthy. The design successfully returned actionable genetic findings, including those related to blood clot formation, to participants.

Study design with responsible return of results for a fully remote genome sequencing study in individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome — Vrana-Diaz et al., Genetics in medicine open · source ↗

• blood
• saliva
• dried
• dbs
• self-collection
• acceptability
• dct
• genotyping

This narrative review surveys remote biospecimen collection products for sexual health research, including dried blood spots and volumetric absorptive microsampling, and concludes that successful implementation needs a multidisciplinary, participant-centred team with sufficient time allocated to the complexities of collection procedures and processes.

A Narrative Review of Remote Biospecimen Collection Product and Implementation Considerations for Sexual Health Clinical Research — Horvath et al., AIDS and behavior (paywalled) · source ↗

• blood
• dried
• vams
• dbs
• self-collection
• validation
• dct
• serology
• sti