Rapid and Self-Administrable Capillary Blood Microsampling Demonstrates Statistical Equivalence with Standard Venous Collections in NMR-Based Lipoprotein Analysis

Abstract

We investigated plasma and serum blood derivatives from capillary blood microsamples (500 μL, MiniCollect® tubes) and corresponding venous blood (10 mL vacutainers). Samples from twenty healthy participants were analysed by 1H-NMR and 112 lipoprotein subfraction parameters; 3 supramolecular phospholipid composite (SPC) parameters from SPC1, SPC2, and SPC3 subfractions; 2 N-acetyl signals from α-1-acid glycoprotein (Glyc), GlycA and GlycB; and 3 calculated parameters, SPC (total), SPC3/SPC2, Glyc (total)—were assessed. Using linear regression between capillary and venous collection sites, explained variance (Adj. R2 ≥ 0.8, p < 0.001) was witnessed for 86% of plasma parameters (103/120), and 88% of serum parameters (106/120), indicating capillary lipoprotein, SPC, and Glyc concentration follows changes in venous concentra-tions. These results indicate capillary blood microsamples are suitable for sampling in remote areas and for high-frequency longitudinal sampling of the majority of lipoproteins, SPCs, and Glycs.