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Abstract This study was performed to analyze fingertip capillary blood sampling in pediatric patients using microcapillary blood collection tubes and microhematocrit tubes and to compare the blood cell analysis results obtained via these two blood collection methods. Finger capillary blood was collected from 110 outpatients using microcapillary blood collection tubes and microhematocrit tubes and complete blood count analysis was performed with a Sysmex XS-900i hematology analyzer and manual microscopy for blood cell morphology. Paired data was evaluated for agreement and bias using the microhematocrit samples as the reference group and the samples from the microcapillary blood collection tubes as the observation group. The two blood collection methods demonstrated good agreement for measuring red blood cell (RBC) parameters (i.e., RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH and MCHC), wherein the relative bias was > allowable total error (TEa) in 0.91%, 1.82%, 11.82%, 1.82%, 0.91% and 8.18% of the parameter measures, respectively. According to industry requirements, the proportion of samples meeting the acceptable bias level should be > 80%. Additionally, the estimated biases at each medical decision level were within clinically acceptable levels for RBC, Hb, Hct, and MCV. However, the proportion of WBC and PLT counts with relative bias > TEa was 25.45% and 35.45%, respectively. Furthermore, the relative bias of the WBC count at the medical decision level of 0.5 × 109/L and that of the PLT counts at the medical decision levels of 10 × 109/L and 50 × 109/L were clinically significant. Bland–Altman analysis further showed a mean bias of 0.66 × 109/L (95% LoA, − 0.79 to 2.11) for the WBC count and 39 × 109/L (95% LoA, − 46 to 124) for the PLT count from the blood samples collected in the microcapillary blood collection tubes compared with the counts of those collected in the microhematocrit tubes. Neutrophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and PLT counts increased significantly in the microcapillary blood collection tubes compared with those in the microhematocrit tubes, along with an elevated number of instrument false alarms (P

Blood collection is an important facet of anti‐doping testing, forming the basis of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). Traditional blood collection via venipuncture can be uncomfortable for athletes, especially those who are tested frequently or close to competition. Athletes may also have negative perceptions of venipuncture due to past experiences or the risks of adverse health events such as bruising, hematomas, syncope, and general discomfort that has the potential to affect performance. Advances in capillary whole blood collection technology now affords the ability to collect micro‐volumetric capillary whole blood from the upper arm (or other suitable vascular location such as the abdomen) that is "needle‐free" and virtually painless using devices such as the Tasso+. The present study extends previous work, by collecting microliter capillary whole blood samples via the Tasso+ EDTA device in an official anti‐doping setting prior to competition, as well as requiring temperature‐monitored cold chain shipping by air to the laboratory before analysis. Fifty‐eight matched capillary and venous blood samples were collected under official doping control conditions by certified Doping Control Officers. No impact of sample shipment by air under cool conditions was observed on sample integrity. Provided that no visible clots were identified prior to analysis, capillary and venous blood samples showed excellent laboratory agreement for all CBC parameters, with the exception of platelets. Micro capillary blood collection provides a valid alternative to venous blood collection for ABP purposes, with the advantage of providing a more athlete‐friendly experience, particularly close to competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to analyze fingertip capillary blood sampling in pediatric patients using microcapillary blood collection tubes and microhematocrit tubes and to compare the blood cell analysis results obtained via these two blood collection methods. Finger capillary blood was collected from 110 outpatients using microcapillary blood collection tubes and microhematocrit tubes and complete blood count analysis was performed with a Sysmex XS-900i hematology analyzer and manual microscopy for blood cell morphology. Paired data was evaluated for agreement and bias using the microhematocrit samples as the reference group and the samples from the microcapillary blood collection tubes as the observation group. The two blood collection methods demonstrated good agreement for measuring red blood cell (RBC) parameters (i.e., RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH and MCHC), wherein the relative bias was > allowable total error (TEa) in 0.91%, 1.82%, 11.82%, 1.82%, 0.91% and 8.18% of the parameter measures, respectively. According to industry requirements, the proportion of samples meeting the acceptable bias level should be > 80%. Additionally, the estimated biases at each medical decision level were within clinically acceptable levels for RBC, Hb, Hct, and MCV. However, the proportion of WBC and PLT counts with relative bias > TEa was 25.45% and 35.45%, respectively. Furthermore, the relative bias of the WBC count at the medical decision level of 0.5 × 109/L and that of the PLT counts at the medical decision levels of 10 × 109/L and 50 × 109/L were clinically significant. Bland–Altman analysis further showed a mean bias of 0.66 × 109/L (95% LoA, − 0.79 to 2.11) for the WBC count and 39 × 109/L (95% LoA, − 46 to 124) for the PLT count from the blood samples collected in the microcapillary blood collection tubes compared with the counts of those collected in the microhematocrit tubes. Neutrophil, monocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil, and PLT counts increased significantly in the microcapillary blood collection tubes compared with those in the microhematocrit tubes, along with an elevated number of instrument false alarms (P < 0.05). The two capillary blood collection devices exhibit performance differences. Therefore, clinicians should pay attention to the variation in results caused by different blood collection methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant global health concern, impacting over 10% of the world population. Despite advances in home‐based treatments, CKD diagnosis and monitoring remain centralized in large laboratories. This work reports on the development of a Graphene‐based Lab‐On‐a‐Chip (G‐LOC) for the self‐testing of multiple renal function biomarkers in capillary blood. G‐LOC integrates bioelectronic sensors with a 3D‐printed microfluidic system that enables the multiplex quantification of urea, potassium, sodium, and chloride, from one drop of blood. The potentials of three graphene sensors modified with ion‐selective membranes and enzymes are simultaneously measured. The analytical performance of the test is evaluated in terms of linearity, accuracy, and coefficient of variability (CV). Accuracy values higher than 98.7%, and CV values lower than 10.8% are obtained for all the biomarkers. Correlation and Bland–Altman plots show good correlation (slopes in the range of 0.94–1.15) and high agreement of G‐LOC with a reference method. It is also demonstrated that the test can correctly differentiate biomarker levels normally obtained for healthy people, early‐stage CKD, and end‐stage CKD. Finally, user experience is studied with a group of untrained volunteers who highlight the simple usability of the test and its suitability for at‐home diagnostics.

Background The remote performance of thyroid function blood tests is complicated because it requires blood collection. Objective To compare TSH and free thyroxine (FT4) levels between capillary and venous blood and assess the adequacy of measuring each value in capillary blood. Methods This prospective intervention study was conducted at Ito Hospital and was based on the clinical research method. The participants were 5 healthy female volunteers and 50 patients (41 females and 9 males) between the ages of 23 and 81 years. To measure TSH and FT4 levels in capillary and venous blood, a digital immunoassay (d-IA) method capable of measuring trace samples was used. Chemiluminescence measurements were used as controls. Values obtained for each assay system were compared using Spearman's correlation analysis. Capillary blood was collected using an autologous device (TAP II; not approved in Japan). Results Capillary plasma volume obtained using TAP II was 125 µL or more in 26 cases, 25 µL to 124 µL in 24 cases, and less than 25 µL in 5 cases. Strong correlations were noted in the TSH and FT4 levels between capillary and venous blood, with correlation coefficients of rs = 0.99 and rs = 0.97, respectively. Conclusion Capillary TSH and FT4 levels strongly correlate with venous blood values. Trace samples can be used in high-precision d-IA methods. These results may promote telemedicine in assessing thyroid function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the emergence of diverse programs in Mexico to address anemia and micronutrient deficiencies in disadvantaged groups, progress on reducing their prevalence has stagnated. In Mexico, anemia surveillance at the population level is conducted through the National Health and Nutrition Survey ENSANUT (for its acronym in Spanish). Objective: To overview the trends in anemia and iron deficiency (ID) from 1999 to 2018-19 in the Mexican population before COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data from five nationwide surveys in Mexico were used. Where available, data on anemia, ID, and ID anemia (IDA) were extracted from ENSANUTs 1999, 2006, 2012, 2016, and 2018-19 in participants from 1 to 99 years old. Blood sample collection methods were similar across surveys (1999-2018) where capillary drop blood was used to estimate Hb using a HemoCue and serum blood samples to measure ferritin and C-reactive protein concentration. Results: The trend in anemia prevalence shows a U-shape from 1999 to 2018-19 in <60 years old. In older adults (≥60 years), an increasing trend was observed. Anemia declined progressively from 1999 to 2012 but increased from 2016 to 2018-19 in comparison with 2012. In contrast, ID declined from 2006 to 2018-19, mainly in children, while IDA did not change over this period. In older adults, ID prevalence remained constant over time. Conclusions: The shifting trend in anemia prevalence across ENSANUTs 1999 through 2018-19 did not mimic the decreasing trend of ID over the same period of time. Other noncausal factors seem to play an important role in the variability of hemoglobin measurements. Plain language title: Overview of Trends in the Prevalence of Anemia and Iron Deficiency in the Mexican Population From 1999 to 2018-19 Plain language summary: In Mexico, anemia surveillance has been monitored through the National Health and Nutrition Survey since 1999. Nonetheless, progress on reducing their prevalence seems to be stagnated despite the emergence of diverse social programs in Mexico to tackle micronutrient deficiencies in children and women. The main cause of anemia in children and women is iron deficiency (ID). Any progress in tackling ID should be reflected in anemia prevalence. To investigate the prevalence trend, we used information about anemia (based on hemoglobin concentration) and ID (based on serum ferritin levels) where available, from 5 nationwide surveys in Mexico among participants from 1 to 99 years old, to discuss some of the potential factors behind anemia and ID trends. From 1999 to 2018-19, we observed an ¨U" shape in the prevalence of anemia in all age groups <60 years old, contrasting with the prevalence of ID, which trend is in decline. No major changes in terms of social programs can explain the trend in anemia. In fact, other nutritional indicators seem to have improved in Mexican children. A major difference in the measurement of anemia and ID is that hemoglobin was measured in situ using drop of capillary blood in HemoCue, a portable photometer, while ferritin was measured in venous blood in the central laboratory. While many external factors might influence the hemoglobin measurement in the field setting, it seems that the technique of finger prick capillary introduces more errors to the measurement of hemoglobin than other techniques (e.g., pool capillary or venous blood using HemoCue). This difference, in turn, affects anemia diagnosis. Since the drop of capillary blood has been widely acceptable, we did not perform any validation of hemoglobin measurement in those past surveys, so we cannot role out the contribution of other factors that affected hemoglobin measurement. Future studies should use venous blood to improve anemia classification; otherwise, validation studies should be carried out to improve hemoglobin measurement when using capillary blood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paclitaxel is an anticancer agent efficacious in various tumors. There is large interindividual variability in drug plasma concentrations resulting in a wide variability in observed toxicity in patients. Studies have shown the time the concentration of paclitaxel exceeds 0.05 µM is a predictive parameter of toxicity, making dose individualization potentially useful in reducing the adverse effects. To determine paclitaxel drug concentration, a venous blood sample collected 24 h following the end of infusion is required, often inconvenient for patients. Alternatively, using a microsampling device for self-sampling would facilitate paclitaxel monitoring regardless of the patient's location. We investigated the feasibility of collecting venous and capillary samples (using a Mitra® device) from cancer patients to determine the paclitaxel concentrations. The relationship between the venous plasma and whole blood and venous and capillary blood (on Mitra®) paclitaxel concentrations, defined by a Passing–Bablok regression, were 0.8433 and 0.8569, respectively. Demonstrating a clinically acceptable relationship between plasma and whole blood paclitaxel concentration would reduce the need to establish new target concentrations in whole blood. However, in this study, comparison of venous and capillary blood using Mitra® for sampling displayed wide confidence intervals suggesting the results from the plasma and whole blood on this device may not be interchangeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionThe study assessed the correlation and concordance of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in capillary and venous plasma collected simultaneously after vitamin D3 supplementation in 42 healthy adults. They were randomly divided into three groups by random number table method. Group A took 1,000 IU vitamin D3 daily, group B took 10,000 IU vitamin D3 every 10 days, and group C took 30,000 IU vitamin D3 every 30 days until the end of the 12th month. Venous blood serum 25(OH)D level was detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) at day 1, day 14, day 28, month 6, and month 12 respectively, the capillary blood serum 25(OH)D level was detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) at the same time. Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis were employed to investigate the relationship and transformation equation between the findings of the two samples and the results obtained from different detection methods within the same sample. The Bland-Altman method, Kappa analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were utilized for assessing consistency, sensitivity, and specificity.ResultsThe three groups all reached a stable peak at 6 months, and the average levels of the three groups were 49.21, 42.50 and 43.025 nmol/L, respectively. The average levels of group A were higher than those of group B and group C (P < 0.001). The mean values of serum 25(OH)D measured by LC-MS and CLIA in 42 healthy adults were 45.32 nmol/L and 49.88 nmol/L, respectively, and the mean values of 25(OH)D measured by LC-MS in capillary blood were 52.03 nmol/L, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that the linear fitting formula of scatter data was as follows: venous 25(OH)D concentration (nmol/L) = 1.105 * capillary 25(OH)D concentration −7.532 nmol/L, R2 = 0.625. Good agreement was observed between venous and corrected capillary 25(OH)D levels in clinical diagnosis (Kappa value 0.75). The adjusted serum 25(OH)D in capillary blood had a high clinical predictive value.ConclusionsThe agreement between the two methods is good when the measured 25(OH)D level is higher. Standardized capillary blood chemiluminescence method can be used for 25(OH)D detection.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease with affected T-cell immunity. The interleukin IL-23/IL-17/IL-22 cytokine axis is a key to immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. Certain role of the IL-36 subfamily is shown in regulation of skin inflammation. Topically applied preparations are used to treat psoriasis. Our aim was to evaluate the treatment-related changes in the cytokine profile of venous and capillary blood collected close to the foci of psoriatic inflammation. Forty patients with psoriasis (mean age, 43.7 years), were examined. Group 1a (20 people) received local treatment with Mometasone, Group 1b (20 people) received topical gel containing an IL-36 receptor antagonist. Twenty healthy people (mean age, 46.6 years) comprised the control group 2. 200-μL aliquots of capillary blood were collected in a microvette with EDTA from the patients’ finger near to the lesion area. Venous blood (3 mL) was taken from the cubital vein to a vacuum tube with EDTA. The concentration of 15 cytokines in blood plasma was tested by the multiplex method (MagPix, BioRad, USA). Clinical effectiveness of therapy was assessed using the PASI and DLQI indexes. Upon completion of treatment (day 14), the PASI and DLQI indices were significantly decreased in both groups. On the 28th day, the PASI index in Group 1a returned to its original level, in group 1b it remained permanently reduced. Before treatment, the levels of all cytokines, except of IL-10, were significantly increased in capillary blood samples of patients with psoriasis compared to Group 2, and the levels of five cytokines were increased in the venous blood. In group 1a, the levels of IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-25, IL-33 were significantly decreased in capillary blood after 14 days, and only IL-17F, IL-21, IL-33 and TNF showed a decrease in the venous blood specimens. On the day +28, the concentrations of almost all cytokines returned to their original level. In Group 1b, on the 14th day, the levels of IFNγ, IL-1, IL-4, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-25, IL-33 were significantly decreased in capillary blood compared to altered IFNγ, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-33 in venous blood. On the 28th day, their concentration continued to decrease, or the level of these cytokines remained reduced, along with significant decrease of IL-6 in venous samples. Thus, the method for determining cytokine profile in capillary blood from the area of psoriatic lesions may be used for tracing the effects of therapy in psoriatic patients.

China lacks a standard for reference intervals (RIs) of complete blood cell (CBC) counts in newborns. This study aimed to determine local haematological RIs for newborns. This prospective study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2020 in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital. We collected capillary blood specimens from 497 healthy newborns aged 5–28 days. We calculated the RIs as nonparametric 2.5th to 97.5th percentiles and 90% confidence intervals following the EP28-A3c guideline. We validated the RIs in another 20 specimens from healthy newborns. The RIs for the 18 CBC parameters were: white blood cell count 7.17–15.69 × 109/L; monocytes# 0.52–1.66 × 109/L; Mono% 5.7–14.1; eosinophils# 0.16–1.08 × 109/L; Eos% 1.5–8.9; Lymphocytes# 4.04–8.08 × 109/L; Lymph% 40.1–67.8; Neutrophils# 1.59–6.41 × 109/L; Neut% 18.1–46.7; Basophils# 0.00–0.04 × 109/L; Baso% 0.0–0.4; red blood cell count 3.38–5.89 × 1012/L; haemoglobin (Hb) 116–198 g/L; Hematocrit % 35.2–61.2; mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) 30.9–36.3 pg/L; MCH concentration 310–341 g/L; mean corpuscular volume 94.5–112.2 fL; and platelets 210–610 × 109/L. The RIs had a conformity rate of 90%–100% in the validation specimens. We established region-specific RIs for CBC parameters in healthy newborns to help diagnose haematological disease in neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences between capillary and venous glucose concentrations have been reported in the past. In continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system performance studies, comparator measurements are often performed in venous samples, despite CGM systems typically aiming at providing capillary-like values. In this study, differences between venous, capillary and interstitial glucose concentrations, measured with a laboratory analyzer, a self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) system and an intermittent-scanning CGM system were investigated in subjects without diabetes after glucose load.

ABSTRACTBackground: China lacks a standard for reference intervals (RIs) of complete blood cell (CBC) counts in newborns. This study aimed to determine local haematological RIs for newborns.Methods: This prospective study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2020 in Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital. We collected capillary blood specimens from 497 healthy newborns aged 5–28 days. We calculated the RIs as nonparametric 2.5th to 97.5th percentiles and 90% confidence intervals following the EP28-A3c guideline. We validated the RIs in another 20 specimens from healthy newborns.Results: The RIs for the 18 CBC parameters were: white blood cell count 7.17–15.69 × 109/L; monocytes# 0.52–1.66 × 109/L; Mono% 5.7–14.1; eosinophils# 0.16–1.08 × 109/L; Eos% 1.5–8.9; Lymphocytes# 4.04–8.08 × 109/L; Lymph% 40.1–67.8; Neutrophils# 1.59–6.41 × 109/L; Neut% 18.1–46.7; Basophils# 0.00–0.04 × 109/L; Baso% 0.0–0.4; red blood cell count 3.38–5.89 × 1012/L; haemoglobin (Hb) 116–198 g/L; Hematocrit % 35.2–61.2; mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) 30.9–36.3 pg/L; MCH concentration 310–341 g/L; mean corpuscular volume 94.5–112.2 fL; and platelets 210–610 × 109/L. The RIs had a conformity rate of 90%–100% in the validation specimens.Conclusion: We established region-specific RIs for CBC parameters in healthy newborns to help diagnose haematological disease in neonates.

Remote self-collected capillary blood samples have been proposed as alternative to venous blood samples as an aid in telemedicine. The aim of this work is to compare the preanalytical and analytical performance of these two types of samples and to study the stability of common measurands in capillary blood. Capillary and venous blood samples were collected in parallel from 296 patients in serum tubes to analyze 22 common biochemistry magnitudes after centrifugation and in EDTA tubes to analyze 15 hematologic magnitudes. Quality of the preanalytical process was assessed applying the model of quality indicator. 24 h stability at room temperature was studied by obtaining paired capillary samples. A questionnaire of assessment was conducted. Mean hemolysis index was higher in capillary samples compared to venous blood samples (p<0.001). Regression analysis and difference analysis showed no bias for all studied biochemistry parameters and hematologic parameters, except mean corpuscular volume (MCV), between capillary and venous blood samples. Regarding sample stability, percentage deviation was higher than the corresponding minimum analytical performance specification for ferritin, vitamin D, hematocrit, MCV, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelets distribution wide, mean platelet volume and basophils. Finger pricking was perceived as less painful (p<0.05) than venipuncture in participants who undergo more than one blood test per year. Capillary blood can be used as an alternative to venous blood for the studied parameters in automated common clinical analyzers. Cautious should be taken if samples are not analyzed within 24 h from the collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 has led to a significant increase in demand for remote blood sampling in clinical trials. This study aims to ascertain the concordance between venous versus capillary samples, processed immediately or exposed to various pre-analytical conditions. Methods: Participants (≥12 years old) provided a venous blood sample (processed immediately) and capillary samples allocated to one of the following conditions: processed immediately or exposed to 12-, 24-, or 36-h delays at room temperature or 36-h delays with a freeze-thaw cycle. The analytes of interest included SARS-CoV-2 IgG, 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), alkaline phosphate (ALP), calcium (Ca), phosphate (Ph), and c-reactive protein (CRP). Paired samples were considered interchangeable if they met three criteria: minimal within-subject mean difference, 95% of values within desirable total errors, and inter-class correlation (ICC) > 0.90. Results: 90 participants (44.1% male) were enrolled. When comparing rapidly processed venous with capillary samples, 25(OH)D, ALP, and CRP met all three criteria; SARS-CoV-2 IgG met two criteria (mean difference and ICC); and Ca and Ph met one criterion (mean difference). When considering all three criteria, concentrations of 25(OH)D, CRP, and ALP remained unchanged after delays of up to 36 h; SARS-CoV-2 IgG met two criteria (mean difference and ICC); Ca and Ph met one criterion (mean difference). Conclusion: These findings suggest that remote blood collection devices can be used to measure anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, 25(OH)D, CRP, and ALP. Further analysis is required to evaluate the interchangeability between venous and capillary testing in Ca and Ph levels, which are more sensitive to pre-analytical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 250 million people are infected by malaria parasites annually while around one million children less than 5 years of age die every year due to malaria. We aimed to assess the seasonal trends and usefulness of capillary and venous blood for rapid diagnosis of malaria. Methods: This cross-sectional study of 18 months duration was conducted at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi. All patients reporting fever as chief complaint were recruited as study subjects. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, presenting complaints, awareness of caregivers regarding malaria, preventive measures and history of malaria fever. Three ml Venous (2-3ml) as well as peripheral blood (3-4 drops) samples of all patients were collected for microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Results: Out of total 477 patients with fever Venous and Capillary Blood RDTs methods detected 33(6.9%) and 30(6.3%) as the malaria positive while Venous and Capillary Blood Microscopy detected 30(6.1%) and 32(6.7%) cases respectively. Plasmodium Vivax infection was the most prevalent (87.9%) and majority (39.39%) of the cases occurred in the quarter, July to September. Conclusion: July to September is the peak season for malaria and P. Vivax (87.9%) is the predominant strain in Karachi. Venous and capillary blood are equally useful for malaria diagnosis however, convenience and less invasiveness may justify the preference of capillary blood over venous blood for early diagnosis of malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 250 million people are infected by malaria parasites annually while around one million children less than 5 years of age die every year due to malaria. We aimed to assess the seasonal trends and usefulness of capillary and venous blood for rapid diagnosis of malaria. Methods: This cross-sectional study of 18 months duration was conducted at the National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi. All patients reporting fever as chief complaint were recruited as study subjects. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, presenting complaints, awareness of caregivers regarding malaria, preventive measures and history of malaria fever. Three ml Venous (2-3ml) as well as peripheral blood (3-4 drops) samples of all patients were collected for microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Results: Out of total 477 patients with fever Venous and Capillary Blood RDTs methods detected 33(6.9%) and 30(6.3%) as the malaria positive while Venous and Capillary Blood Microscopy detected 30(6.1%) and 32(6.7%) cases respectively. Plasmodium Vivax infection was the most prevalent (87.9%) and majority (39.39%) of the cases occurred in the quarter, July to September. Conclusion: July to September is the peak season for malaria and P. Vivax (87.9%) is the predominant strain in Karachi. Venous and capillary blood are equally useful for malaria diagnosis however, convenience and less invasiveness may justify the preference of capillary blood over venous blood for early diagnosis of malaria.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine feasibility of collecting capillary blood by traditional fingerstick and next day analysis after transport in Microtainers® at ambient temperature with no plasma separation. This study is pursuing an acceptable alternative to venipuncture for measuring 12 analytes important for health risk assessment. Design: and Methods: Performance standards of a 12-assay chemistry panel were assessed using a set of paralleled serum and capillary microsamples. The panel included Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL-C, Creatinine, Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Uric Acid, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), ALT (GPT), AST (GOT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and total protein. Correlation studies were performed using 31 simultaneous venous and capillary blood collections. Analytical bias, correlation, and medical decision points were calculated to determine equivalency of sample type and the impact of transport conditions. Clinical sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were evaluated at calculated medical decision points for their usability in health screening initiatives. Results: Laboratory test results using capillary blood samples stored in Microtainers® under conditions of delayed centrifugation, and mail transport at ambient temperature, showed an acceptable agreement with results obtained using their paired serum samples analyzed using standard methods, except AST. Conclusions: Capillary blood samples can be self-collected at remote locations using Microtainers® and transported at ambient temperature for 24 h for successful performance of several medical tests important in large-scale health screenings programs.

It is well known that acute hypoxia has negative effects on balance performance. An attempt to compensate for the influence of hypoxia on competition performance was made by the application of hyperoxic gases (inspiratory fraction of oxygen > 0.2095) prior to exercise. Purpose: To investigate whether hyperoxic preconditioning (pure-oxygen supplementation prior to exercise) improves balance ability and postural stability during normobaric hypoxia (3500 m) in highly skilled skiers. Methods: In this single-blind randomized, crossover study, 19 subjects perlormed a 60-s balance test (MFT S3-Check) in a normobaric hypoxic chamber. After a short period of adaptation to hypoxia (60 min), they received either pure oxygen or chamber air for 5 min prior to a balance test (hyperoxic preconditioning vs nonhyperoxic preconditioning). Capillary blood was collected 3 times. Results: Balance performance, indexed by sensory (P = .097), stability (P = .937), and symmetry (P = .202) scores, was not significantly different after the hyperoxic preconditioning phase. Balance performance decreased over time (no group difference). After hyperoxic preconditioning, arterial partial pressure of oxygen increased from 52.7 (4.5) mm Hg to 212.5 (75.8) mm Hg, and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin increased from 85.8% (3.5%) to 98.9% (0.7%) and remained significantly elevated to 90.1% (2.0%) after the balance test. Conclusion: A hyperoxic preconditioning phase does not affect balance performance under hypoxic environmental conditions. A performance-enhancing effect, at least in terms of coordinative functions, was not supported by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) is a recently developed sample collection method that enables single-drop blood collection in a minimally invasive manner. Blood biomolecules can then be extracted and processed for analysis using several analytical platforms. The integration of VAMS with conventional mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics approaches is an attractive solution for human studies representing a less-invasive procedure compared to phlebotomy with the additional potential for remote sample collection. However, as we recently demonstrated, VAMS samples require long-term storage at −80 °C. This study investigated the stability of VAMS samples during short-term storage and compared the metabolome obtained from capillary blood collected from the fingertip to those of plasma and venous blood from 22 healthy volunteers. Our results suggest that the blood metabolome collected by VAMS samples is stable at room temperature only for up to 6 h requiring subsequent storage at −80 °C to avoid significant changes in the metabolome. We also demonstrated that capillary blood provides better coverage of the metabolome compared to plasma enabling the analysis of several intracellular metabolites presented in red blood cells. Finally, this work demonstrates that with the appropriate pre-analytical protocol capillary blood can be successfully used for untargeted metabolomics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is the first report of capillary blood reference intervals in infants in Henan, China. • The hematological markers of infants are complex and require partitions. • Hematological parameters were higher in infants than in preschoolers and adults. • Sex differences in red blood cell-related parameters among infants aged 0–2 years. The reference intervals (RIs) of laboratory tests are essential for disease diagnosis, therapy monitoring, and health assessment. They are also significant for clinicians to discriminate between subjects with disease and healthy subjects. However, RIs for complete blood count (CBC) parameters in capillary blood for children are deficient. This study aimed to establish capillary blood RIs for blood cell parameters in neonates and infants from birth to 2 years of age in Zhengzhou. We prospectively collected a total of 1840 capillary blood specimens from healthy subjects from birth to 2 years of age. Hematology RIs were established by analyzing capillary blood sample data, and RIs and 90 % confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) C28-A3 guidelines. RIs were established for hematological parameters of capillary blood in neonates and infants from birth to 2 years of age. The levels of almost all hematological parameters, except for the lymphocyte (LYMPH), platelet (PLT), and thrombocytocrit (PCT) parameters, peaked in the first month after birth and then decreased to lower levels within 6 months. There were significant sex differences in most erythrocyte-related parameters, with higher levels in males than in females. Erythrocyte-related parameters showed an increasing tendency with increasing age after the second month. Neutrophil (NEUT) levels were high on the third day of life, declined to a nadir in the first month, and then slowly increased with age. LYMPH levels were low at birth and began to increase after birth, peaked at approximately-six months of age and then gradually declined with age. PLT and PCT levels showed an increasing trend during the first month, while the other parameters showed a decreasing trend. All platelet-related and leukocyte-related parameters showed no significant difference with sex. We provide comprehensive age- and sex-specific RIs, including RIs for neonates in Henan. Our study provides more comprehensive reference ranges for Child Health Hospital and children's medical institutions, which may facilitate preliminary screening, diagnosis, and therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) requires early diagnosis and tight surveillance of disease activity. Remote self-collection of blood for the analysis of inflammation markers and autoantibodies could improve the monitoring of RA and facilitate the identification of individuals at-risk for RA. Objective Randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the accuracy, feasibility, and acceptability of an upper arm self-sampling device (UA) and finger prick-test (FP) to measure capillary blood from RA patients for C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the presence of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF IgM) and anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (anti-CCP IgG). Methods RA patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to self-collection of capillary blood via UA or FP. Venous blood sampling (VBS) was performed as a gold standard in both groups to assess the concordance of CRP levels as well as RF IgM and CCP IgG. General acceptability and pain during sampling were measured and compared between UA, FP, and VBS. The number of attempts for successful sampling, requests for assistance, volume, and duration of sample collection were also assessed. Results Fifty seropositive RA patients were included. 49/50 (98%) patients were able to successfully collect capillary blood. The overall agreement between capillary and venous analyses for CRP (0.992), CCP IgG (0.984), and RF IgM (0.994) were good. In both groups, 4/25 (16%) needed a second attempt and 8/25 (32%) in the UA and 7/25 (28%) in the FP group requested assistance. Mean pain scores for capillary self-sampling (1.7/10 ± 1.1 (UA) and 1.9/10 ± 1.9 (FP)) were significantly lower on a numeric rating scale compared to venous blood collection (UA: 2.8/10 ± 1.7; FP: 2.1 ± 2.0) (p=0.003). UA patients were more likely to promote the use of capillary blood sampling (net promoter score: +28% vs. −20% for FP) and were more willing to perform blood collection at home (60% vs. 32% for FP). Conclusions These data show that self-sampling is accurate and feasible within one attempt by the majority of patients without assistance, allowing tight monitoring of RA disease activity as well as identifying individuals at-risk for RA. RA patients seem to prefer upper arm-based self-sampling to traditional finger pricking. Trial registration DRKS.de Identifier: DRKS00023526 . Registered on November 6, 2020.

Exposing blood specimens to air reduces plasma total carbon dioxide (TCO 2). We evaluated the degree of TCO 2 reduction attributed to open collection of neonatal blood in BD microtainers® (microtainers), microtainer transport duration and delayed testing of open plasma aliquots. Venous blood was aliquoted into open microtainers in a 3x4 factorial design to simulate combined effects of blood volume (0.2–0.6 mL) and air exposure duration (0–5 min), with blood drawn in vacutainers as a control. Separate effects of in-hospital transport duration (0–120 min; whole blood), off-site transport duration (0–24 h; centrifuged whole blood), and the duration plasma aliquots remained open (0–120 min) were evaluated by repeated testing. Findings were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Student's T-tests. In the factorial experiment, mean plasma TCO 2 in microtainers was on average 3.5 mmol/L lower than in vacutainers. Smaller blood volume but not greater air exposure duration significantly (p < 0.05) reduced TCO 2. Mean TCO 2 in filled (0.6 mL; 1–5 min air exposure) microtainers was on average 2.9 mmol/L lower than in vacutainers. Simulated off-site transport of microtainers containing centrifuged whole blood significantly reduced TCO 2 (4 h; mean change = -1.5 mmol/L), as did delayed testing of aliquoted plasma (15 min; mean change = -1.3 mmol/L). Plasma TCO 2 decreased with reduced microtainer blood volume, extended off-site transport duration of centrifuged whole blood and testing delay of aliquoted plasma. To minimize TCO 2 reduction, microtainers should be fully filled and tested rapidly. Laboratories should also consider whether an interpretive comment, correction factor or separate reference intervals are appropriate for these tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paclitaxel is an anticancer agent efficacious in various tumors. There is large interindividual variability in drug plasma concentrations resulting in a wide variability in observed toxicity in patients. Studies have shown the time the concentration of paclitaxel exceeds 0.05 µM is a predictive parameter of toxicity, making dose individualization potentially useful in reducing the adverse effects. To determine paclitaxel drug concentration, a venous blood sample collected 24 h following the end of infusion is required, often inconvenient for patients. Alternatively, using a microsampling device for self-sampling would facilitate paclitaxel monitoring regardless of the patient’s location. We investigated the feasibility of collecting venous and capillary samples (using a Mitra® device) from cancer patients to determine the paclitaxel concentrations. The relationship between the venous plasma and whole blood and venous and capillary blood (on Mitra®) paclitaxel concentrations, defined by a Passing–Bablok regression, were 0.8433 and 0.8569, respectively. Demonstrating a clinically acceptable relationship between plasma and whole blood paclitaxel concentration would reduce the need to establish new target concentrations in whole blood. However, in this study, comparison of venous and capillary blood using Mitra® for sampling displayed wide confidence intervals suggesting the results from the plasma and whole blood on this device may not be interchangeable.

Population-based surveys matched by time but using different methodologies for determining hemoglobin (Hb) concentration have shown inconsistencies in estimating anemia prevalence. This study aimed to estimate measurement errors in Hb quantification in HemoCue 201+ using venous blood (VB) and capillary blood both drops (DCB) and pools (PCB), and compare the results against those of a reference method (VB analyzed in hematology analyzers based on the cyanmethemoglobin method). Children (n = 49), adult females (n = 50), and older adults (n = 50) were randomly allocated to donate VB (4 mL) and either DCB (three drops) or PCB (350 µL). Results in HemoCue were analyzed through Bland Altman and Lyn's concordance against Hb concentration by the reference method. A positive average bias (systematic error) was found for the HemoCue (0.31 g/dL) using the same VB samples. This value was then subtracted from all readings carried out in the device. After this adjustment, DCB still produced a positive bias (0.42 ± 0.81 g/dL), and the variation of single results was ±1.6 g/dL (95% CI). PCB and VB performed similarly; the average bias was negligible (−0.02 ± 0.36 and 0.00 ± 0.33 g/dL, respectively) and the variation of the results (95% CI) was ±0.7 g/dL or lower. Lyn's concordance values were 0.86, 0.96, and 0.98 for DCB, PCB, and VB, respectively. Random variation using DCB is too large to approximate the true Hb values, and therefore DCB should be discontinued for diagnosing anemia both in individuals and in populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Haemoglobin mass (Hbmass) assessment with the carbon monoxide rebreathing method is a more accurate estimate than other measures of oxygen-carrying capacity. Blood may be collected by several means and differences in the measured variables may exist as a result. The present study assessed the validity and reliability of calculated Hbmass and intravascular volumes obtained from capillary blood (CAP) when compared to venous blood (VEN) draws. Methods: Twenty-two adults performed a carbon monoxide rebreathing procedure with paired VEN and CAP draws at baseline, pre-rebreathing and post-rebreathing (POST). Thirteen of these participants performed this protocol on two occasions to assess the data reliability from both blood sampling sites. In a second experiment, 14 adults performed a 20-min seated and a 20-min supine rest to assess for the effect of posture on haematological parameters. Results: Haemoglobin mass (CAP = 948.8 ± 156.8 g; VEN = 943.4 ± 157.3 g, p = 0.108) and intravascular volume (CAP = 6.5 ± 1 L; VEN = 6.5 ± 0.9 L, p = 0.752) were statistically indifferent, had low bias (Hbmass bias = 14.45 ± 40.42 g, LoA -64.78 g—93.67 g) and were highly correlated between sampling techniques. Reliability analysis demonstrated no difference in the mean change in variables calculated from both sampling sites and good to excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (>0.700), however, typical measurement error was larger in variables measured using CAP (VEN Hbmass TE% = 2.1%, CAP Hbmass TE % = 5.5%). The results indicate that a supine rest prior to the rebreathing protocol would have a significant effect on haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit values compared to a seated rest, with no effect on carboxyhaemoglobin %. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that CAP and VEN were comparable for the calculation of Hbmass and intravascular volumes in terms of accuracy. However, reduced reliability and increased error in the CAP variables indicates that there are methodological considerations to address when deciding which blood drawing technique to utilise. To reduce this CAP error, increased replicate analyses are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the effectiveness of capillary dried blood spots (DBS) versus venous DBS in detecting metabolic changes related to drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). DBS samples were collected from 142 epilepsy patients (58 drug-resistant, 84 drug-responsive) via venipuncture or fingerstick capillary sampling. Metabolomic analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry compared DBS metabolite profiles between the two groups. While venous DBS profiles showed no distinct patterns, capillary DBS profiles revealed clustering patterns in principal components analysis, with the first two principal components explaining 14.5 %, and 13.5 % of the total variance, respectively. Orthogonal PLS-DA confirmed group discrimination (R2Y=0.989, Q2=0.742). Drug-resistant patients exhibited elevated capillary DBS levels of glutamine, pyruvic acid, and serine, and decreased palmitic acid compared to drug-responsive patients. Pathway analysis revealed disruptions in amino acid metabolism, neurotransmission, and cellular energy regulation. Elevated glutamine levels may contribute to an imbalance between excitatory glutamate and inhibitory GABA neurotransmission, key factors in epileptogenesis and drug resistance. Capillary DBS, likely enriched with arterial blood supply to the brain, appears to better capture central nervous system metabolic disturbances compared to venous DBS containing systemic contributions. This minimally invasive capillary DBS approach offers effective metabolic profiling of brain conditions like DRE, for monitoring disease progression and treatment response, enhancing personalized patient management in epilepsy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper, (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Blood collection is an important facet of anti-doping testing, forming the basis of the hematological module of the athlete biological passport (ABP). Presently, whole blood is collected via venepucture under standardized conditions, in accordance with the World Anti-doping Agency's International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI). Advances in capillary whole blood collection technology now afford the ability to collect microvolumetric capillary whole blood from the upper arm (or other suitable vascular location such as the abdomen) that is "needle-free" and virtually painless. Previous work has demonstrated the suitability and feasibility of capillary whole blood compared with venous using the Tasso+ device. Recently, other microcapillary devices have received FDA approval increasing the options available to the anti-doping community. The present study extends previous work, by collecting microliter capillary whole blood samples via two different FDA approved devices (RedDrop and the Tasso+ device) to compare with venous blood collected simultaneously. Ten participants provided three matched blood samples (2× capillary and 1× venous) in accordance with WADA ABP guidelines for blood sample collection, for a total of 30 samples. Capillary samples from both devices showed excellent laboratory agreement with venous blood for all CBC parameters, with the exception of platelets. Excellent laboratory agreement was also observed between the two microcapillary collection devices. Irrespective of the device, microcapillary blood collection provides a valid alternative to venous blood collection for ABP purposes., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Psoriasis is considered an autoimmune disease with a predominantly cellular mechanism for the development of disorder. Studies in immune pathogenesis of psoriasis were performed either in animal model, which is not just similar to humans, or the data were obtained in patients by means of skin window method, which is traumatic, or by examining venous blood. However, it is difficult to discern parameters of the local immune response in venous blood samples. We have attempted to find an adequate method which would be convenient both for the patient and for the researcher, in order to assess local immune processes occurring in the skin affected by psoriasis. We examined 20 patients with a verified diagnosis of psoriasis, the average age was 44.3 years. The control group included 15 healthy adults, with average age of 46.6 years. Capillary blood was taken by fingerprick, whereas, in psoriatic patients, the samples were taken near the psoriatic lesion at a final volume of 400 μL in two microvettes. Venous blood (3 mL) was taken from the cubital vein into a vacuum tube with EDTA. Clinical analysis of venous and capillary blood was performed in automated hematological analyzer. Immunophenotyping was performed by four-color staining of whole capillary and venous blood followed by lysis of erythrocytes. Cytofluorometry was performed using techniques and reagents from BD Biosciences (USA). Plasma cytokines were determined by multiplex approach (MagPix, BioRad, USA). Upon clinical analysis of blood, the difference between capillary and venous blood was not found, either in healthy group, or among patients with psoriasis. In healthy people, the subsets of mononuclear cells, did not differ between venous and capillary blood. The samples of capillary and venous blood in the patients with psoriasis showed significantly increased levels of double-positive lymphocytes (CD45RA+/CD45R0+), B lymphocytes and NKT lymphocytes (both for relative and and absolute values). A significant increase in the percentage of naive T lymphocytes, activated helpers (Thact) and Treg, as well as B1 cells and Breg, and a significant decrease in B2 lymphocytes was registered in capillary blood of the patients with psoriasis. In venous blood samples from psoriatic patients, only a significant increase in Thact, Treg, and Breg was revealed. In the capillary blood of patients with psoriasis, we found a significant increase in the levels of non-classical M2 monocytes and inflammatory Minfl monocytes, and a decrease in classical M1 monocyte levels; in venous blood of psoriatic patients, only an increase in inflammatory Minfl monocytes was revealed. In capillary blood, all the studied cytokines in psoriasis patients significantly exceeded the levels of corresponding cytokines in healthy controls, except of IL-10. The levels of this cytokine did not differ from healthy group. In venous blood, the levels of most studied cytokines in the group of patients with psoriasis did not differ from the group of healthy ones. Approximately two-fold increase was revealed for IL-4, IL-21, IL-23 and TNF. First, the subsets of mononuclear cells and the cytokine profile of capillary and venous blood of healthy people did not differ significantly. Secondly, our proposed method for determining the subsets of mononuclear cells and capillary blood cytokines profile from the area of psoriatic lesions may be used to monitor local immunity in the patients with psoriasis. This approach is significantly less traumatic than the skin window method and more informative than the studies of venous blood.

Abstract Blood glucose measurement is one of the most commonly performed clinical diagnostic tests used to monitor glycaemia in several animal diseases. Usually, these laboratory analyses are performed on blood venous samples in remote laboratories, and the results are delayed, at best. The use of portable glucometers could evidently solve many constraints but veterinary‐use glucometers are not usually available. The present study aimed to compare blood glucose levels obtained by Bionime glucometer to the reference method using glucose oxidase. Venous blood was collected from a total number of 140 healthy dogs (72 males and 68 females), of different breeds (28 German Shepherd, 27 Pitt bull, 21 Boxer, 24 Rottweiler and 40 cross‐bred dogs) and different ages (range: 3 months–14 years) for glucose measurement using the reference laboratory method. Capillary blood samples were used to conduct a glucose measurement with a human‐use glucometer. Our results revealed that there was no significant difference between the mean capillary blood glucose (CBG) measured with the human‐use glucometer (5.06 ± 0.84 mmol/L) and the mean venous blood glucose (VBG) measured with the laboratory reference method (4.90 ± 0.73 mmol/L) (p = 0.42). Similarly, there was no significant difference of the mean CBG and VBG in male dogs (5.11 ± 0.88 and 4.97 ± 0.75 mmol/L, respectively) and female dogs (5.01 ± 0.81 and 5.07 ± 0.72 mmol/L, respectively) (p = 0.73 and 0.21, respectively), and no correlation to neither age (5.43 ± 0.90 and 5.20 ± 0.70 mmol/L in 3 to 6 month‐old dogs, 5.03 ± 0.82 and 4.94 ± 0.79 mmol/L in 6 months to 1 year‐old, 4.94 ± 0.67 and 5.13 ± 0.66 mmol/L in 1 to 4 year‐old dogs; 4.88 ± 0.94 and 4.80 ± 0.75 mmol/L in dogs older than 4 years, respectively, p

Objectives: Haemoglobin mass (Hbmass) assessment with the carbon monoxide rebreathing method is a more accurate estimate than other measures of oxygen-carrying capacity. Blood may be collected by several means and differences in the measured variables may exist as a result. The present study assessed the validity and reliability of calculated Hbmass and intravascular volumes obtained from capillary blood (CAP) when compared to venous blood (VEN) draws.Methods: Twenty-two adults performed a carbon monoxide rebreathing procedure with paired VEN and CAP draws at baseline, pre-rebreathing and post-rebreathing (POST). Thirteen of these participants performed this protocol on two occasions to assess the data reliability from both blood sampling sites. In a second experiment, 14 adults performed a 20-min seated and a 20-min supine rest to assess for the effect of posture on haematological parameters.Results: Haemoglobin mass (CAP = 948.8 ± 156.8 g; VEN = 943.4 ± 157.3 g, p = 0.108) and intravascular volume (CAP = 6.5 ± 1 L; VEN = 6.5 ± 0.9 L, p = 0.752) were statistically indifferent, had low bias (Hbmass bias = 14.45 ± 40.42 g, LoA -64.78 g—93.67 g) and were highly correlated between sampling techniques. Reliability analysis demonstrated no difference in the mean change in variables calculated from both sampling sites and good to excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (>0.700), however, typical measurement error was larger in variables measured using CAP (VEN Hbmass TE% = 2.1%, CAP Hbmass TE% = 5.5%). The results indicate that a supine rest prior to the rebreathing protocol would have a significant effect on haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit values compared to a seated rest, with no effect on carboxyhaemoglobin %.Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that CAP and VEN were comparable for the calculation of Hbmass and intravascular volumes in terms of accuracy. However, reduced reliability and increased error in the CAP variables indicates that there are methodological considerations to address when deciding which blood drawing technique to utilise. To reduce this CAP error, increased replicate analyses are required.

IntroductionBeing able to independently determine vaccine induced antibody responses by minimal-invasive methods is of great interest to enable a flexible and effective vaccination strategy. This study aimed to evaluate (1) the accuracy, feasibility, usability and acceptability of capillary blood and saliva self-sampling to determine SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and health professionals (HP).MethodsIMID patients and HP having received two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, self-collected capillary blood (Tasso+) and saliva samples. Capillary samples were considered interchangeable with venous blood if three criteria were met: Spearman's correlation coefficient (r) > 0.8, non-significant Wilcoxon signed-rank test (i.e., p > 0.05), and a small bias or 95% of tests within 10% difference through Bland-Altman. Participants completed a survey to investigate self-sampling usability (system usability scale; SUS) and acceptability (net promoter score; NPS). Study personnel monitored correct self-sampling completion and recorded protocol deviations.Results60 participants (30 IMID patients and 30 HP) were analyzed. We observed interchangeability for capillary samples with an accuracy of 98.3/100% for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgA antibodies, respectively. Fifty-eight capillary blood samples and all 60 saliva samples were successfully collected within the first attempt. Usability of both self-sampling procedures was rated as excellent, with significantly higher saliva ratings (p < 0.001). Capillary self-sampling was perceived as significantly (p < 0.001) less painful compared to traditional venous blood collection. Participants reported a NPS for capillary and saliva self-sampling of +68% and +63%, respectively. The majority of both groups (73%) preferred capillary self-sampling over professional venous blood collection.ConclusionOur results indicate that capillary self-sampling is accurate, feasible and preferred over conventional venous blood collection. Implementation could enable easy access, flexible vaccination monitoring, potentially leading to a better protection of vulnerable patient groups. Self-collection of saliva is feasible and safe however more work is needed to determine its application in clinical practice.

Population-based surveys commonly use point-of-care (POC) methods with capillary blood samples for estimating Hb concentrations; these estimates need to be validated by comparison with reference methods using venous blood. In a cross-sectional study in 748 participants (17–86 years, 708 women, Hb: 5·1 to 18·2 g/dl) from Hyderabad, India, we validated Hb measured from a pooled capillary blood sample by a POC autoanalyser (Horiba ABX Micros 60OT, Hb-C-AA) by comparison with venous blood Hb measured by two reference methods: POC autoanalyser (Hb-V-AA) and cyanmethemoglobin method (Hb-V-CM). These comparisons also allowed estimation of blood sample-related and equipment-related differences in the Hb estimates. We also conducted a longitudinal study in 426 participants (17–21 years) to measure differences in the Hb response to iron folate (IFA) treatment by the capillary blood POC method compared with the reference methods. In the cross-sectional study, Bland–Altman analyses showed trivial differences between source of blood (Hb-C-AA and Hb-V-AA; mean difference, limits of agreement: 0·1, −0·8 to 1·0 g/dl) and between analytical methods (Hb-V-AA and Hb-V-CM; mean difference, limits of agreement: < 0·1, −1·8 to 1·8 g/dl). Cross-sectional anaemia prevalence estimated using Hb-C-AA did not differ significantly from Hb-V-CM or Hb-V-AA. In the longitudinal study, the Hb increment in response to IFA intervention was not different when using Hb-C-AA (1·6 ± 1·7 g/dl) compared with Hb-V-AA (1·7 ± 1·7 g/dl) and Hb-V-CM (1·7 ± 1·7 g/dl). The pooled capillary blood–autoanalyzer method (Hb-C-AA) offers a practical and accurate way forward for POC screening of anaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The measurement of blood glucose in critically ill patients is still performed in many ICUs with glucose meters and capillary samples. Several prevalent factors in these patients affect the accuracy of the results and should be interpreted with caution. A weak recommendation from the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) suggests the use of arterial blood rather than capillary blood for point of care testing using glucose meters. Aims and objectives: To analyse the agreement between arterial, central venous, and capillary blood samples of glucose values measured by glucose meter in critically ill patients and study potential confounding factors. Design: Prospective cross‐sectional study in a general intensive care unit (ICU). Patients needing insulin treatment (subcutaneous or intravenous) and blood glucose control were included. Methods: Standardized collection of blood samples and measurement of glucose values with a glucometer. Agreement was studied by the Bland–Altman method and stratified analysis of disagreement‐survival plots was used to study the influence of haematocrit, pH range, SOFA score, capillary refilling time, intravenous insulin infusion, and lactic acid. Results: A total of 297 measurements from 54 patients were included. The mean arterial blood glucose was 150.42 (range 31–345 mg/dL). In the graphical analysis, there is a poor agreement both in capillary and venous central to arterial samples, but in opposite direction (underestimation of capillary and overestimation of central venous). Factors associated with a reduction in the agreement between arterial and capillary samples were elevated lactate, poor capillary refilling, and hemodynamic failure. Patients without hemodynamic compromise have an acceptable agreement with values for absolute differences of 16 mg/dL for a disagreement of 10%. Conclusions: In critically ill patients, the measurement of blood glucose with a glucose meter should be performed with arterial samples whenever possible. Capillary samples do not accurately estimate arterial blood glucose values in patients with shock and/or vasoactive drugs and underestimate the values in the range of hypoglycemia. Venous samples are subject to error because of potential contamination. Relevance to clinical practice: This study adds support to the recommendation of using arterial blood rather than capillary or venous blood when using glucose meters in critically ill patients, especially in those with hemodynamic failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced researchers to reconsider in-person assessments due to transmission risk. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of using the Tasso-SST (Tasso, Inc, Seattle, Washington) device for blood self-collection for use in SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing in an ongoing COVID-19 prevalence and immunity research study. 100 participants were recruited between January and March 2021 from a previously identified sub-cohort of the Cabarrus County COVID-19 Prevalence and Immunity (C3PI) Study who were under-going bimonthly COVID-19 antibody testing. Participants were given a Tasso-SST kit and asked to self-collect blood during a scheduled visit where trained laboratory personnel performed routine phlebotomy. All participants completed an after-visit survey about their experience. Overall, 70.0% of participants were able to collect an adequate sample for testing using the device. Among those with an adequate sample, there was a high concordance in results between the Tasso-SST and phlebotomy blood collection methods (Cohen's kappa coefficient = 0.88, Interclass correlation coefficient 0.98 [0.97, 0.99], p < 0.0001). The device received a high-level (90.0%) of acceptance among all participants. Overall, the Tasso-SST could prove to be a valuable tool for seroprevalence testing. However, future studies in larger, diverse populations over longer periods may provide a better understanding of device usability and acceptance among older participants and those with comorbidities in various use scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary dried blood spot (DBS) samples facilitate field-based collection without venipuncture. This pilot study aims to evaluate the viability of creatine (Cr) and creatinine (Crt) quantification using fresh capillary serum (CrS/CrtS) and DBS samples (CrDBS/CrtDBS), using Flow Injection Analysis Mass Spectrometry (FIA -MS). Nine Olympic Athletes provided a capillary blood sample to assess CrS/CrtS and CrDBS/CrtDBS quantified by FIA - MS. No difference between CrtS (mean ± SD: 813.6 ± 102.4 µmol/L) and CrtDBS (812.4 ± 108.1 µmol/L) was observed with acceptable variance [SEM 88.7; CV 10.7%; ICC 0.57 (CI 95% 0.06 - 0.84)] and agreement [very strong (Spearman: r = 0.77; p < 0.01) or strong (Pearson: r = 0.56; p = 0.04); Bland Altman: lower (-193) and upper (+196) limits of agreement]. CrS (mean ± SD: 691.8 ± 165.2 µmol/L) was significantly different to CrDBS (2911 ± 571.4 µmol/L) with unacceptable variance [SEM 171.6; CV 27%; ICC 0.002 (CI 95% -0.02 -0.07)] and 'weak' agreement [Spearman: r = 0.21, p = 0.47 and Pearson: r = 0.06, p = 0.84; Bland Altman lower (-3367) and upper (-1072) limits of agreement]. Crt quantification is viable using both CrtS and CrtDBS (but not for Cr and CrS/CrDBS), with the DBS tissue handling technique offering several methodological and practice facing advantages. Future work should expand upon the sample size, explore sport/discipline relevant analytes across a full competitive season, including key training, recovery and performance blocks of their periodized performance plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The HEART score is a validated risk stratification tool for chest pain patients presenting to the emergency department and was recently investigated for implementation in a pre-hospital setting. Fingerstick (capillary blood) point-of-care (POC) troponin testing enables quick measurements outside the hospital and seems easier to implement than the current venous blood sampling techniques. This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of the modified HEART score, integrating fingerstick POC troponin testing, in ruling out acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: The data of 96 patients with chest pain, included in a study investigating a novel POC troponin device under development at the cardiac emergency department, were analysed retrospectively. Based on the patients' admission data and capillary POC high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-cTnI) results, the modified HEART score was determined. The outcome measure, for evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of the modified HEART score, was the occurrence of ACS. Results: Of the total study population, 33 patients (34%) were diagnosed with ACS. Seventeen patients (18%) were classified as low risk (0–3 points) and one patient (6%) in this group was diagnosed with ACS. The sensitivity and negative predictive value of the modified HEART score was 97.0 and 97.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The modified HEART score, integrating capillary POC hs-cTnI results, is a promising tool for ruling out ACS in patients with chest pain presenting to the cardiac emergency department. These results encourage prospective investigation into the integration of fingerstick POC troponin testing in the modified HEART score in a pre-hospital setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hematological module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) represents an important tool in the pursuit to detect blood doping in athletes. Currently, collecting blood samples for ABP analysis can be cumbersome, invasive, and expensive, involving a venous blood draw performed by a trained phlebotomist followed by cold‐chain monitored shipping to the analysis laboratory. Developing innovative methods to collect and transport ABP blood samples while adhering to strict preanalytical and analytical requirements has the potential to greatly increase testing frequency and, consequently, the effectiveness of the ABP program globally. The focus of this study was to compare venous blood collections with capillary blood collections to determine if capillary samples could be used for ABP analysis without sacrificing the analytical integrity required for antidoping testing procedures. In this study, capillary blood was collected using the Tasso+ EDTA device (Tasso, Inc.), a novel microvolumetric device that collects liquid, whole blood from skin capillaries on the upper arm. Excellent laboratory agreement was observed between venous and capillary blood samples for the three main ABP parameters: HGB, RET%, and OFF‐Score. Additionally, the stability of capillary samples after storage at 4°C, similar to what would be required during transport, was acceptable for up to 72 h following collection. Finally, we generated individual ABP profiles using the adaptive model for 10 participants and observed excellent agreement between venous and capillary profiles. These results indicate capillary blood collection is a viable alternative to venous blood collections for ABP analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiphase study was designed to examine the detectability of human growth hormone (GH) use in capillary dried blood spots (DBS). First, 13 subjects self‐injected a single, 2‐mg dose of somatropin and collected capillary DBS samples for 24 h. Next, nine subjects self‐injected 2‐mg somatropin, six times over the course of 11 days; DBS were collected intermittently following dosing. Finally, a nondrug, large‐scale field study involved DBS collections from an athlete and staff population over 3 years. All DBS samples were self‐collected using the Tasso M20 device and were analyzed for the presence of GH using the WADA‐approved GH isoforms test. Following the single dose, positive detection within 12 h of dosing was 86% and 56% sensitive on Kits 1 and 2, respectively. In the multidose study, detection within 12 h was 85% and 69% sensitive on Kits 1 and 2, respectively. No positives were detected outside the 12‐h window following a single dose, wherein detection was 5.6% sensitive at 24‐h in the multidose study. Combining the 12‐h windows from both studies, 100% of samples had measurable recombinant (REC) and pituitary (PIT) GH concentrations above the assay LoD, 0.041 ng/ml. Finally, 1213 samples were collected in the large‐scale field study: 189 showed REC and PIT concentrations above the LoD; none returned positive results. GH is detectable in capillary DBS using the isoforms method for 12–24 h following use. While detection is short lived, transitioning to a DBS self‐collection method can allow more frequent testing and increase deterrence to GH abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary dried blood spot (DBS) samples facilitate field-based collection without venipuncture. This pilot study aims to evaluate the viability of creatine (Cr) and creatinine (Crt) quantification using fresh capillary serum (CrS/CrtS) and DBS samples (CrDBS/CrtDBS), using Flow Injection Analysis Mass Spectrometry (FIA – MS). Nine Olympic Athletes provided a capillary blood sample to assess CrS/CrtS and CrDBS/CrtDBS quantified by FIA – MS. No difference between CrtS (mean ± SD: 813.6 ± 102.4 µmol/L) and CrtDBS (812.4 ± 108.1 µmol/L) was observed with acceptable variance [SEM 88.7; CV 10.7%; ICC 0.57 (CI 95% 0.06 – 0.84)] and agreement [very strong (Spearman: r = 0.77; p < 0.01) or strong (Pearson: r = 0.56; p = 0.04); Bland Altman: lower (-193) and upper (+196) limits of agreement]. CrS (mean ± SD: 691.8 ± 165.2 µmol/L) was significantly different to CrDBS (2911 ± 571.4 µmol/L) with unacceptable variance [SEM 171.6; CV 27%; ICC 0.002 (CI 95% -0.02 – 0.07)] and ‘weak’ agreement [Spearman: r = 0.21, p = 0.47 and Pearson: r = 0.06, p = 0.84; Bland Altman lower (-3367) and upper (-1072) limits of agreement]. Crt quantification is viable using both CrtS and CrtDBS (but not for Cr and CrS/CrDBS), with the DBS tissue handling technique offering several methodological and practice facing advantages. Future work should expand upon the sample size, explore sport/discipline relevant analytes across a full competitive season, including key training, recovery and performance blocks of their periodized performance plan.

Abstract Background Both capillary and venous blood samples have been interchangeably used for the diagnosis of malaria in Ethiopia. However, Plasmodium parasites are thought to be more concentrated in capillary than in venous blood. Hence, selecting a sample source where parasites are more concentrated is indispensable approach in order to maximize the accuracy of blood film microscopy. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the detection rate and the parasitemia level of Plasmodium species from conventional capillary and venous blood films, and buffy coat preparations. Methods A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from Feburary to March 2020 among 210 febrile patients attending Hamusite health center, northwest Ethiopia. Capillary and venous blood samples were collected and buffy coat was prepared from each sample. Thin and thick blood films were prepared, stained, and examined microscopically following standard protocol. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software version 20 and Med-Calc software version 19.3. Results Capillary blood buffy coat (61/210, 29.0%) had significantly higher detection rate as compared to capillary (48/210, 22.9%) and venous (42/210, 20.0%) blood films (p

Abstract Background Rapid and sensitive diagnostics are critical tools for clinical case management and public health control efforts. Both capillary and venous blood are currently used for malaria detection and while diagnostic technologies may not be equally sensitive with both materials, the published data on this subject are scarce and not conclusive. Methods Paired clinical samples of venous and capillary blood from 141 febrile individuals in Bo, Sierra Leone, were obtained between January and May 2019 and tested for the presence of Plasmodium parasites using two multiplexed PCR assays: the FilmArray-based Global Fever Panel (GFP) and the TaqMan-based Malaria Multiplex Sample Ready (MMSR) assay. Results No significant differences in Plasmodium parasite detection between capillary and venous blood for both assays were observed. The GFP assay was more sensitive than MMSR for all markers that could be compared (Plasmodium spp. and Plasmodium falciparum) in both venous and capillary blood. Conclusions No difference was found in malaria detection between venous and capillary blood using two different PCR-based detection assays. This data gives support for use of capillary blood, a material which can be obtained easier by less invasive methods, for PCR-based malaria diagnostics, independent of the platform.

Venous serum and plasma are optimal specimens for serological testing but may be logistically infeasible. Dried blood spots (DBS) are a feasible alternative, provided results are adequately sensitive and specific. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DBS to measure IgG and IgM antibodies for vaccine-preventable diseases and compare test validity of DBS with venous blood. In October 2020, we searched seven databases for peer-reviewed studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of DBS specimens compared with serum in detecting antibodies to VPDs in humans. We extracted data and assessed risk of bias in all included studies. We calculated sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence intervals for each index-reference test comparison. We narratively synthesized the identified evidence on diagnostic accuracy and blood collection and processing methods for DBS. Studies on measles and rubella IgG and IgM were the most frequently identified and reported generally high sensitivity and specificity. Lack of standardization in collection, storage, and testing methods limited systematic comparison across studies. Our findings indicate a need for additional validation studies on the diagnostic accuracy of DBS to expand their use in serological surveillance. We recommend practical considerations to improve standardized reporting for DBS validation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to compare whether or not there is a difference between venous and capillary blood samples in blood glucose measurements and investigate the effects of different aseptic methods used in skin cleaning before collecting blood samples on measurement results. This quasi-experimental study was conducted with 109 patients. The capillary first and second blood drop values taken from the patients after fasting and at 2 hours following 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and capillary and venous blood glucose values were compared. There was no significant difference between the median venous blood glucose value and the capillary second blood drop value taken after wiping the finger with alcohol. There was no significant difference between the first and second blood drop values of capillary blood glucose 2 hours after OGTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background No consensus has been reached on capillary blood reference intervals for platelet parameters in full-term neonates. We aimed to establish neonatal capillary blood reference intervals for platelet parameters and evaluate influences of sex, gestational age and postnatal age on platelet parameters. Methods This study was a prospective investigation and implemented in 594 healthy full-term neonates from 12 to 84 h of age, using SYSMEX XN-9000 haematology automatic analyser by means of capillary blood. Reference intervals for platelet parameters were defined by an interval of 2.5th − 97.5th percentiles. Results Capillary reference interval for platelet count was (152–464) × 109/L. No significance was found between sex-divided reference intervals for platelet parameters. The values of platelet count changed minimally across gestational age (37–41 weeks) and postnatal age (12–84 h). Reference intervals for other platelet parameters were affected by these factors to a different extent. Conclusions We established capillary blood reference intervals for platelet parameters in the first days after birth of full-term neonates in China.

Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) is a recently developed sample collection method that enables single-drop blood collection in a minimally invasive manner. Blood biomolecules can then be extracted and processed for analysis using several analytical platforms. The integration of VAMS with conventional mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics approaches is an attractive solution for human studies representing a less-invasive procedure compared to phlebotomy with the additional potential for remote sample collection. However, as we recently demonstrated, VAMS samples require long-term storage at −80 °C. This study investigated the stability of VAMS samples during short-term storage and compared the metabolome obtained from capillary blood collected from the fingertip to those of plasma and venous blood from 22 healthy volunteers. Our results suggest that the blood metabolome collected by VAMS samples is stable at room temperature only for up to 6 h requiring subsequent storage at −80 °C to avoid significant changes in the metabolome. We also demonstrated that capillary blood provides better coverage of the metabolome compared to plasma enabling the analysis of several intracellular metabolites presented in red blood cells. Finally, this work demonstrates that with the appropriate pre-analytical protocol capillary blood can be successfully used for untargeted metabolomics studies.

Background: Poor glycemic management persists among people practicing insulin therapy in relation to type 1 and 2 diabetes despite a clear relationship with negative health outcomes. Skin penetration by jet injection has recently been shown as a viable method for inducing blood release from fingertips. This study examines the use of vacuum to enhance the volume of blood released and quantifies any dilution of the collected blood., Methods: A single-blind crossover study involving 15 participants, each receiving four different interventions, was conducted wherein each participant served as their own control. Each participant experienced fingertip lancing and fingertip jet injection, both with and without applied vacuum. Participants were divided into three equal groups to explore different vacuum pressures., Results: This study found that glucose concentration in blood collected under vacuum following jet injection and lancing were equivalent. We found that applying a 40 kPa vacuum following jet injection produced a 35-fold increase in the collected volume. We determined the limited extent to which the injectate dilutes blood collected following jet injection. The mean dilution of blood collected by jet injection was 5.5%. We show that jet injection is as acceptable to patients as lancing, while being equally suited for conducting glucose measurements., Conclusions: Vacuum significantly enhances the volume of capillary blood released from the fingertip without any difference in pain. The blood collected by jet injection with vacuum is equivalent to that from lancing for glucose measurement purposes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: A.T. has a minority interest in medical device company Portal Instruments, Inc.

Background: Reference intervals (RIs) are normal ranges of clinical indicators established from healthy subjects, and comparing test results with RIs is the first step for clinicians in differentiating between healthy and diseased subjects. Capillary blood is widely used in complete blood count (CBC) tests in children; however, capillary blood‐based RIs for the CBC parameters are still lacking for all pediatric populations. The aim of this study was to establish capillary blood‐based RIs for the CBC parameters in children aged 3 months to 18 years in Beijing. Methods: A total of 6799 capillary blood specimens from children were collected, including 3832 males and 2967 females aged 3 months to 18 years, and CBC parameters were analyzed. Data analysis, RI calculations, and 90% confidence interval (CI) calculations were performed according to CLSI C28‐A3 guidelines. Results: Capillary blood RIs for 22 CBC parameters were established in children aged 3 months to 18 years. The levels of most red blood cell‐related parameters increased with age and were generally higher in males than in females. White blood cell counts were relatively stable, with no obvious upward or downward trends from 3 months to 18 years of age. Platelet levels decreased within the first year and tended to be stable thereafter. Further validation with 458 healthy children illustrated that the verified results were within the established RIs with a 90%‐100% proportion. Conclusion: We established capillary blood RIs for 22 CBC parameters in children across a broad age range in Beijing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the accuracy of tranexamic acid (TXA) concentrations measured in capillary whole blood using volumetric absorptive micro-sampling (VAMS) devices. Paired venous and VAMS capillary blood samples were collected from 15 healthy volunteers participating in a pharmacokinetic study of alternative routes (oral, IM and IV) of administering TXA. To assess accuracy across a range of concentrations, blood was drawn at different times after TXA administration. We measured TXA concentrations in plasma, whole blood from samples collected by venepuncture and whole blood from venous and capillary samples collected using VAMS devices. TXA was measured using a validated high sensitivity liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry method. We used Bland-Altman plots to describe the agreement between the TXA concentrations obtained with the different methods. In the 42 matched samples, the mean plasma TXA concentration was 14.0 mg/L (range 2.6–36.5 mg/L) whereas the corresponding whole blood TXA concentration was 7.7 mg/L (range 1.6–17.5 mg/L). When comparing TXA concentrations in VAMS samples of venous and capillary whole blood, the average bias was 0.07 mg/L (lower and upper 95% limits of agreement: −2.1 and 2.2 mg/L respectively). When comparing TXA concentrations in venous whole blood and VAMS capillary whole blood, the average bias was 0.7 mg/L (limits of agreement: −2.7 and 4.0 mg/L). Volumetric absorptive micro-sampling devices are sufficiently accurate for use in pharmacokinetic studies of tranexamic acid treatment in the range of plasma concentrations relevant for the assessment of fibrinolysis inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood glucose measurement is one of the most commonly performed clinical diagnostic tests used to monitor glycaemia in several animal diseases. Usually, these laboratory analyses are performed on blood venous samples in remote laboratories, and the results are delayed, at best. The use of portable glucometers could evidently solve many constraints but veterinary‐use glucometers are not usually available. The present study aimed to compare blood glucose levels obtained by Bionime glucometer to the reference method using glucose oxidase. Venous blood was collected from a total number of 140 healthy dogs (72 males and 68 females), of different breeds (28 German Shepherd, 27 Pitt bull, 21 Boxer, 24 Rottweiler and 40 cross‐bred dogs) and different ages (range: 3 months–14 years) for glucose measurement using the reference laboratory method. Capillary blood samples were used to conduct a glucose measurement with a human‐use glucometer. Our results revealed that there was no significant difference between the mean capillary blood glucose (CBG) measured with the human‐use glucometer (5.06 ± 0.84 mmol/L) and the mean venous blood glucose (VBG) measured with the laboratory reference method (4.90 ± 0.73 mmol/L) (p = 0.42). Similarly, there was no significant difference of the mean CBG and VBG in male dogs (5.11 ± 0.88 and 4.97 ± 0.75 mmol/L, respectively) and female dogs (5.01 ± 0.81 and 5.07 ± 0.72 mmol/L, respectively) (p = 0.73 and 0.21, respectively), and no correlation to neither age (5.43 ± 0.90 and 5.20 ± 0.70 mmol/L in 3 to 6 month‐old dogs, 5.03 ± 0.82 and 4.94 ± 0.79 mmol/L in 6 months to 1 year‐old, 4.94 ± 0.67 and 5.13 ± 0.66 mmol/L in 1 to 4 year‐old dogs; 4.88 ± 0.94 and 4.80 ± 0.75 mmol/L in dogs older than 4 years, respectively, p < 0.05), nor to breed (4.94 ± 1.01 and 4.99 ± 0.79 mmol/L in German Shepherd, 5.13 ± 0.84 and 4.99 ± 0.79 mmol/L in Pitt Bull, 5.07 ± 0.94 and 5.07 ± 0.77 mmol/L in Boxer, 5.40 ± 0.59 and 5.48 ± 0.55 mmol/L in Rottweiler and 4.89 ± 0.75 and 4.77 ± 0.59 mmol/L in cross‐bred dogs, respectively, p < 0.05). The present study confirms that human glucometer can be used to measure glucose in dogs with a good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]