Comparison of self-sampling blood collection for N-glycosylation analysis

Abstract

Objective Self-sampling of capillary blood provides easier sample collection, handling, and shipping compared to more invasive blood sampling via venepuncture. Recently, other means of capillary blood collection were introduced to the market, such as Neoteryx sticks and Noviplex cards. We tested the comparability of these two self-sampling methods, alongside dried blood spots (DBS), with plasma acquired from venepunctured blood in N-glycoprofiling of total proteins. We have also tested the intra-day repeatability of the three mentioned self-sampling methods. Capillary blood collection with Neoteryx, Noviplex and DBS was done following the manufacturers’ instructions and N-glycoprofiling of released, fluorescently labelled N-glycans was performed with ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Results Comparability with plasma was assessed by calculating the relative deviance, which was 0.674 for DBS, 0.092 for Neoteryx sticks, and 0.069 for Noviplex cards. In repeatability testing, similar results were obtained, with Noviplex cards and Neoteryx sticks performing substantially better than DBS (CVs = 4.831% and 7.098%, compared to 14.305%, respectively). Our preliminary study on the use of Neoteryx and Noviplex self-sampling devices in glycoanalysis demonstrates their satisfactory performance in both the comparability and repeatability testing, however, they should be further tested in larger collaborations and cohorts.

Advanced Microsamples: Current Applications and Considerations for Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolic Phenotyping Pipelines

“…Telimmune plasma cards (Novilytic) displayed the least variation (4.831%), followed by the VAMS Mitra (Neoteryx) (7.098%), with most variation being seen in DBSs (14.305%). Cvetko et al demonstrate the ability of passive plasma separation devices like the Telimmune plasma cards (Novilytic) to show reproducibility with venous derived plasma, and analytical reproducibility when sampling is self-administered by participants, thus highlighting the great potential for use of this advanced microsampling technology in larger cohort studies [53]. Importantly, although acknowledged as a limitation, variation in sample volume and hct from self-sampling are factors that were not addressed in this research.…”

“…Telimmune plasma cards (formerly Noviplex plasma prep cards) are currently the only plasma separation technology that has been translated to metabolic phenotyping research [53]. This was performed by Cvetko et al who compared the glycoprofles of 10 participants.…”

“…Importantly, although acknowledged as a limitation, variation in sample volume and hct from self-sampling are factors that were not addressed in this research. Furthermore, haemolysis (from inappropriate capillary lancing techniques) and under-sampling by participants may interfere with mass-spectrometry based metabolic phenotyping pipelines, introducing erroneous results [53].…”

“…Such patient-centric benefits are exemplified by the established use of blood glucose monitoring devices by diabetics [28]. However, routine adoption of self-sampling (with advanced microsampling devices) is currently limited to a few accounts, with only a single published application in metabolic phenotyping (to our knowledge) [53]. Currently, only Cvetko et al has investigated the use of self-sampling for dried samples (DBS) (VAMS) (Neoteryx; Torrance, California, United States) and a passive plasma separation device (Telimmune plasma cards) (Novilytic; West Lafayette, Indiana, United States) for metabolic phenotyping [53].…”

“…Interestingly, the reproducibility testing required collection of hexaplicates for each of the three devices (i.e., 18 microsamples collected per participant in a single sitting) which potentially introduced repeated lancing pain. Furthermore, this account does not specify if these findings were device-specific [53]. Beyond metabolic phenotyping, advanced microsampling devices like the HemaSpot HF (Spot on Sciences; San Francisco, California, United States) have shown promising results in improving health-engagement in men with HIV-1 [28].…”