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The development, validation and application of remote blood sample collection in telehealth programmes.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Rennie, Kirsten L 
Parkington, Damon 
Tyrrell, Carina Sb 
Catt, Michael 

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The ability to collect blood samples remotely without the involvement of healthcare professionals is a key element of future telehealth applications. We developed and validated the application of the Drawbridge OneDraw device for use at home for blood sample collection. The device was then applied in a large population-based remote monitoring study to assess changes in SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels. METHODS: We tested: (1) feasibility of participants using the device at home without a healthcare professional on the upper arm and thigh sites (2) stability of the dried blood sample collected remotely (3) participant acceptability of the device compared with finger-prick and venous blood samples and the validity of SARS-CoV-2 virus antibody measurement versus venous blood sample (4) application to the Fenland COVID-19 study in which 4023 participants at 3 timepoints across 6 months. RESULTS: Participant acceptability was high, with a significantly lower median perceived pain score and 76% of participants preferring the OneDraw device over the other blood collection methods. There was high level of agreement in SARS-CoV-2 virus antibody results with venous blood samples in 120 participants (Cohen's kappa 0.68 (95% CI 0.56, 0.83). In the Fenland COVID-19 study, 92% of participants returned a sample at baseline (3702/4023), 89% at 3 months (3492/3918) and 93% at 6 months (3453/3731), with almost all samples received successfully processed (99.9%). DISCUSSION: The OneDraw device enables a standardised blood sample collection at home by participants themselves. Due to its ease-of-use and acceptability the OneDraw device is particularly useful in telehealth approaches where multiple samples need to be collected.

Description

Keywords

Home telecare, blood sampling, pathology, self-care, telehealth

Journal Title

J Telemed Telecare

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1357-633X
1758-1109

Volume Title

Publisher

SAGE Publications
Sponsorship
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) (146281)
MRC (MC_UU_00006/1)
The study, MC and NJW are supported by the Medical Research Council (grant MC_UU_12015/1). KR, AK, EGK and DP are supported the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre in Cambridge (IS-BRC-1215-20014). EGK was also supported by the NIHR via a Greenshoots Award.