Dried Blood Collection Cards for Room-Temperature Colony Screening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for collecting and analyzing blood samples from animal colonies for disease or phenotype detection are inconvenient and expensive, requiring euthanasia and refrigerated shipping, which is inefficient for large-scale testing.
Innovation Solution
A method involving collection of blood samples on absorbent collection cards, drying them for transport at room temperature, and analyzing them using multiplex immunoassays to detect multiple analytes, reducing sample volume and eliminating the need for refrigeration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blood samples are collected and shipped refrigerated or frozen, then sample integrity is maintained, but shipping cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from refrigerated/frozen to room temperature by using dried blood spots on collection cards. The drying process stabilizes the blood samples, allowing them to be transported at room temperature without compromising sample integrity for serological testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses disposable collection cards with dried blood spots instead of requiring expensive refrigerated shipping equipment. The cards are inexpensive, single-use items that eliminate the need for complex temperature-controlled logistics while maintaining sample suitability for testing.
2Quantity of substance
If large volumes of blood are collected for analysis, then sufficient sample material is obtained, but animal welfare and operational simplicity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-sampling where animals can be bled by trained personnel or even self-bleed under supervision, with the blood automatically absorbed onto collection cards. This eliminates the need for euthanasia and complex sample collection procedures while obtaining sufficient volume for multiple analyte testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the blood collection process into small drops applied to collection cards, replacing the need for large-volume single samples. Multiple small blood drops can be collected over time and combined on cards, providing sufficient total volume while improving animal welfare and operational ease.
3Reliability
If multiple analytes are tested through systematic examination, then comprehensive health monitoring is achieved, but cost and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple analyte tests into a single multiplex immunoassay platform that can simultaneously detect various infectious agents, antibodies, and biomarkers from one dried blood spot sample. This consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate tests, reducing time and cost while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary drying and stabilization of blood samples on collection cards before shipping, allowing samples to be prepared in advance and stored at room temperature. This preliminary action enables batch processing of multiple samples through multiplex assays, reducing overall testing time and facilitating efficient use of analytical resources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safer, simpler, and more cost-effective colony management by allowing self-sampling and reducing sample volume, while maintaining analytical sensitivity and accuracy, facilitating rapid data transmission and colony health monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
collecting blood samples from a plurality of members of the colony on a plurality of collection cards; allowing the blood samples to dry on the collection cards
Implementation Method 2
analyzing the samples for the presence or absence of a biological marker; The samples may be analyzed in a multiplex immunoassay
Data Source
AI summary
Management of the health status of an animal colony using a plurality of blood collection cards and the analysis of dried blood from members of the colony that has been collected on the cards. Members of the colony may be removed from the colony as a result of the analysis.