ABSTRACT
Background: The hemaPEN is a liquid microsampling device for the reproducible collection and storage of blood samples as dried blood spots, for subsequent quantitative analysis. Materials & methods: We examined the device's ability to collect accurate and precise blood volumes, at different hematocrit levels, via in vitro studies using acetaminophen in human blood. We also investigated the impact of different user training approaches on device performance. Results: The hemaPEN demonstrated acceptable volumetric accuracy and precision, regardless of the training medium used. Issues with apparent hematocrit-dependent bias were found to be associated with the extraction process, rather than the volumetric performance of the device. Conclusion: The hemaPEN is capable of readily producing high quality blood microsamples for reproducible and accurate quantitative bioanalysis.
Subject(s)
Acetaminophen/blood , Dried Blood Spot Testing/methods , In Vitro Techniques/methods , HumansABSTRACT
Stem cells promise to treat conditions poorly served by conventional therapeutics. Cells from both embryonic and somatic tissues are being used to create cell therapies for genetic, traumatic and degenerative conditions. The current human, healthcare and fiscal costs of these conditions are significant. This review summarizes the use of stem cells for neurological and cardiac disorders and diabetes to determine the requirements for generic translational research to assist such therapies to be a reality. While there are multiple strategies in each disease area, with no clear favourite, there are clear opportunities in treatments that use a single cell type. A key requirement is to work with pluripotent progenitor cells to cultivate and differentiate a sufficiently large population of functioning cells. Challenges also arise in determining and achieving timely delivery of the correct dose of cells to where they can most effectively treat the disease and best benefit individual patients.
