Blood Spot Collection Instructions Page

Instructions for Collection and Shipment of Dried Blood Spots with Biomarker Blood Spot (BBS) Cards: At Home or In-Office

To ensure that your sample will get to us safely and in good condition, we have developed a checklist and set of instructions. Please follow these carefully. You may follow these instructions for sample collection at home, or you may bring this sampling kit to your local provider to help.

Blood Collection Kit Contents

Collect dried blood spots from each individual using the provided sampling kit:

  • • 2x contact-activated lancets (one time use)
  • • 2x band-aids
  • • 1x dried blood spots card with 5 circles
  • • 1x alcohol wipe
  • • 1x gauze wipe
  • • 1x biohazard bag
  • • 1x desiccant sachet
  • • 1x return envelope

If you have not received the appropriate dried blood spot sampling kit and shipping materials, please call/e-mail us:
Phone: 617-355-2698
Email: hsp.research@childrens.harvard.edu

Preparation

Label the card

1. Label the card with the participant’s study ID and date of sample collection.

Wash hands

2. Wash your hands and the participant’s hands with warm water and soap for 1-2 minutes, then dry them with a clean towel.

Open blood spot card

3. Open the blood spot card without touching the filter paper.

Warm hands

4. Gently rub your child’s hands for 10-20 seconds until warm. You can also ask them to swing their arm downward to get the blood flowing.

Lancet preparation

5. Twist off the lancet cap. The lancet is ONE-TIME use only.

Clean finger

6. Use the alcohol wipe to clean the tip of your child’s finger. Allow dry for 30 seconds.

Sampling

Prick finger
Wipe first drop

7. Prick the participant’s fingertip using the provided lancet. Wipe away the first drop of blood using a dry sterile gauze pad.

Collect blood spots

8. Allow for a large drop of blood to collect. Touch the filter paper (area indicated by circles) against the blood drops and fill all 5 circles.

Do NOT touch the circles on the blood spots card once blood is applied.

Apply bandage

9. Hold gauze wipe until the bleeding stops and apply a band-aid.

Shipping

Dry card

10. Place the blood spots card in a clean, dry, protected area, and allow to dry for at least 4 hours OR overnight.

Pack in biohazard bag

11. Once dried, place the blood spots card in the biohazard bag with a desiccant sachet.

Shipping materials 1
Shipping materials 2

12. Return the biohazard bag using the proper shipping materials provided and return envelope. Ship the envelope using regular mail. Let us know by PHONE or EMAIL when you have shipped the materials.

What NOT to do:

  • Do not rub or smear (allow full drops to form and gently fall onto the paper).
  • Do not allow multiple drops in the same circle (no overlapping).
  • Do not use heat to assist drying.

Properly Collected Specimen:

Properly collected specimen

Invalid Specimen:

Incomplete absorption

Spot with incomplete absorption resulting in insufficient blood volumes.

Rubbed sample

Sample that was potentially rubbed against the participant’s finger.

Not air dried

Sample not allowed to air dry before placing in storage bags.

Clotted blood

Sample where blood was clotted and did not soak into paper.

Contaminated sample

Blood spots card with contamination or hemolyzed blood.

Alcohol contamination

Not allowing alcohol to dry at puncture site before making skin puncture, or due to filter paper to come in contact with alcohol, hand lotion, etc.

Thank you very much for your help! Please contact us with any questions.