Investigation of new analytical approaches relating to Dried Blood Spot samples collectedon collection cards and analysed by GC/MS based detection

The current approach for testing compounds of interest in blood such as drugs or nutrients involves drawing blood samples into vials that then require refrigeration prior to testing. Since transportation to remote laboratories is challenging, people need to go into medical labs to have their blood tested. This research will develop improved techniques that enable blood samples to be collected from a finger prick onto a specially designed card that eliminates biohazards and makes the sample stable at room temperature so that it could be mailed or sent by courier to a lab. This work will develop collection cards for other samples such as wine or juice. Furthermore, new approaches will be developed that allow solid samples such as tissues or food samples to be extracted onto cards for convenient analysis on DBS automated analysers. In short this research will improve access to blood testing and other materials.

Faculty Supervisor:

Liang Li

Student:

Partner:

Supra Research and Development

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Alberta

Program: