Capitainer is proud to be featured in two recent articles; one article by GenomeWeb, entitled Swedish Researchers Use Olink Tech for Proteomic Analysis of Home-Collected Blood Samples, and one article in GEN Biotechnology & Engineering entitled COVID-19 Infections Detected in Dried Blood Spots via At-Home Proteomic Profiling.
The articles discuss a study led by researchers at Sweden’s Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) utilizing Olink Proteomics proximity extension assays (PEAs) to measure proteins in home-collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples using Capitainer’s device. Entitled ”Proteome profiling of home-sampled dried blood spots reveals proteins of SARS-CoV-2 infections” and published in Nature Communications Medicine, the study examines the feasibility of measuring proteins in self-collected DBS samples, offering insights into potential large-scale health studies and enhanced patient monitoring.
The researchers analyzed DBS samples from 228 Swedish individuals, collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and measured 276 proteins related to cardiovascular and metabolic processes. They grouped subjects based on COVID-19 serology data and exposure information, aiming to find associations between protein expression and COVID-19 exposure.
Around 55 percent of the sent Capitainer® sampling cards were returned, indicating significant participant engagement, likely influenced by limited COVID-19 testing availability at the time. The researchers conducted additional sample collections during various pandemic phases and analyzed protein differences between seropositive and seronegative individuals, as well as between infection phases.
The study identified several proteins associated with COVID-19 infection, shedding light on potential mechanisms behind severe cases. The research suggests promising applications for Capitainer-based proteomic analysis, such as longitudinal patient monitoring and population studies on health conditions like allergies, asthma, and other diseases. Moreover, the minimal infrastructure requirements make this approach feasible for use in resource-limited regions or hard-to-reach populations, offering new avenues for disease research and monitoring. Ongoing studies by the researchers further explore Capitainer® sampling’s potential for a variety of applications.