INTERVIEW WITH LAURA MERCOLINI
between novel microsampling methods and the reference ones accepted by the scientific community.
“ ...we should now lead parallel comparative studies ”
applications? And what impact do you think this will have for laboratories and clinics?
From my point of view, any biofluid is potentially suitable to be microsampled. Obviously, derived matrices, such as plasma and serum, require additional steps that do not allow direct sampling, thus limiting their use in a laboratory context. However, evident advantages are maintained as regards procedure automation, workflow streamlining, high-throughput sample handling and the use of limited volumes of solvents and reagents, in view of an increasing demand for more environment-friendly applications.
Research in the field of bioanalysis is definitely witnessing a progressive miniaturization of overall procedures and we await impatiently the massive spread of portable analytical technologies able to provide reliable results directly at the sampling location. In the meantime, implementation of microsampling protocols into control and monitoring frameworks could allow a refinement of current practices and their applicative expansion. If we think about contexts such as therapeutic drug monitoring, roadside DUI controls, workplace testing and sport drug testing, microsampling implementation could represent a win–win situation for patients/subjects, clinical personnel, regulatory bodies and society at large.
Where do you see the application of microsampling in your research area in the next 5–10 years, additionally what advice would you give to fellow colleagues looking to implement microsampling as part of their biosampling strategy in their research?
Q
The major obstacles with adoption of microsampling as common practice is often inherent to those settings, where the dedicated staff are usually reluctant to undertake procedural changes and are generally devoted to classical blood withdrawal by venepuncture. Similarly, I believe the bioanalytical community is affected by decades of plasmatic reference levels, as a convenience and because methodologies did not allow much more, at least until now.
Neil Spooner (Spooner Bioanalytical Solutions, UK), once said: “we are living in bridging times and there is the need for young willing scientists rolling up their sleeves”. I strongly believe we should now lead parallel comparative studies between novel microsampling methods and the reference ones accepted by the scientific community. There is the need to flawlessly demonstrate sampling accuracy and result precision, as well as to compare plasma levels with those of capillary and venous whole blood. We have to build trust in the novel methodologies we propose through solid and overlapping results. This would pave the way to the bridging from the current and often obsolete routine methods towards more effective
alternatives.Simultaneously, we should put all of our efforts into communicating these results and populating the scientific literature with findings, although preliminary. This, on the one hand, would be an incentive for other research realities in undertaking microsampling
43
www.bioanalysis-zone.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
