The COVID19 pandemic drastically changed the way at home medical care is handled throughout the world. As of 2019, the telemedicine global market was valued at some 50 billion U.S. dollars. In 2020 that number grew dramatically with the global market forecasted to reach 460 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. More telemedicine means more at home testing, including Phlebotomy.  

Phlebotomy or blood collection is based on the invention of the vacuum tube more than 70 years ago. At that time there was a need for several milliliters while today only microliters of blood are needed to perform the same tests. Microliters of blood can easily be collected via a capillary blood collection, e.g., a prick of the finger, heel or other capillary collection site, which can easily be completed at home.  

There are still challenges of home-based collection, such as with patient instructions, transport of the sample to the lab and monitoring of the transport condition throughout its journey to the lab.

In fact, pre-analytical errors account for up to 70% of all mistakes made in laboratory diagnostics, most of which arise from problems in patient errors, transportation, and storage. (Plebani M. (2012). Quality indicators to detect pre-analytical errors in laboratory testing. The Clinical biochemist. Reviews, 33(3), 85–88.)

According to the ISO 15189 quality management system for medical laboratories, the temperature of blood during transport needs to be stabilized and monitored. Many countries worldwide have a medical post system that can be used to send blood or other body materials for laboratory diagnostic purposes.

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"Pre-analytical errors account for up to 70% of all mistakes made in laboratory diagnostics, most of which arise from problems in patient errors, transportation, and storage."

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With telemedicine on the rise, it is imperative that companies invest in the pre-analytical phase of the journey. By using specific packaging material, it is possible to protect the sample from temperature influences along with providing clear instructions to the patient on the collection process. Patient experience and analytical accuracy must be the top priorities in telemedical sample collection.

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The COVID19 pandemic drastically changed the way at home medical care is handled throughout the world. As of 2019, the telemedicine global market was valued at some 50 billion U.S. dollars. In 2020 that number grew dramatically with the global market forecasted to reach 460 billion U.S. dollars by 2030. More telemedicine means more at home testing, including Phlebotomy.  

Phlebotomy or blood collection is based on the invention of the vacuum tube more than 70 years ago. At that time there was a need for several milliliters while today only microliters of blood are needed to perform the same tests. Microliters of blood can easily be collected via a capillary blood collection, e.g., a prick of the finger, heel or other capillary collection site, which can easily be completed at home.  

There are still challenges of home-based collection, such as with patient instructions, transport of the sample to the lab and monitoring of the transport condition throughout its journey to the lab.

In fact, pre-analytical errors account for up to 70% of all mistakes made in laboratory diagnostics, most of which arise from problems in patient errors, transportation, and storage. (Plebani M. (2012). Quality indicators to detect pre-analytical errors in laboratory testing. The Clinical biochemist. Reviews, 33(3), 85–88.)

According to the ISO 15189 quality management system for medical laboratories, the temperature of blood during transport needs to be stabilized and monitored. Many countries worldwide have a medical post system that can be used to send blood or other body materials for laboratory diagnostic purposes.

‍

"Pre-analytical errors account for up to 70% of all mistakes made in laboratory diagnostics, most of which arise from problems in patient errors, transportation, and storage."

‍

With telemedicine on the rise, it is imperative that companies invest in the pre-analytical phase of the journey. By using specific packaging material, it is possible to protect the sample from temperature influences along with providing clear instructions to the patient on the collection process. Patient experience and analytical accuracy must be the top priorities in telemedical sample collection.

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