Analysis of Inflammatory Biomarker Changes in Dry Blood Spot Versus Venous Blood Samples (DBS-VB)

March 23, 2026 updated by: Emily McDonald, McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

The purpose of this study is to see whether dried blood spot (DBS) samples can measure inflammatory biomarkers as accurately as venous blood samples.

Investigators will be measuring inflammatory biomarkers changes obtained in DBS compared with paired venous blood samples following a controlled physiological stressor (i.e. after a vaccine or other planned event that can cause a temporary rise in inflammation).

These findings will help understand whether DBS can be a reliable alternative to traditional blood draws in future research and healthcare.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Inflammation plays a key role in the progression of both acute and chronic health conditions. When properly regulated, inflammatory responses enable the body to adapt to short-term stressors such as infection, vaccination, or strenuous exercise.1 In contrast, excessive and/or prolonged inflammation can lead to the development and progression of chronic health conditions including cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic dysfunction.2 In both acute and chronic settings, measuring changes in inflammatory biomarkers allows us to better understand how the immune system responds to physiological challenges, which may ultimately support the development of earlier testing (diagnostic) strategies, more accurate detection methods, and timely interventions for individuals most at risk.

Venous blood sampling is the gold standard for measuring inflammatory biomarker concentrations. However, venous blood sampling is invasive, requires trained personnel, and entails a visit to a hospital or health clinic.3 Dependence on venous sampling for inflammatory biomarker detection therefore limits the feasibility of decentralized, real-world investigations, such as those conducted in home environments. This restriction reduces opportunities for longitudinal data collection and poses challenges for larger-scale and/or high temporal frequency sampling protocols.

More recently, dried blood spot (DBS) samples have shown to be a compelling alternative to assess inflammatory biomarkers like C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. In comparison, this method is minimally invasive, can be obtained by the patient rather than trained personnel, involves fewer requirements for transport and storage, and is less costly than venous blood sampling.3-7 Previous comparative studies between venous blood sampling and DBS, have shown the latter's potential for measuring a wide range of indices, including inflammatory biomarkers during both chronic and acute medical conditions. In fact, numerous studies have shown good concordance between the DBS and venous blood sampling methods, namely for CRP, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).3,8-13 Furthermore, a recent study by Anderson et al. demonstrated that DBS can reliably capture dynamic changes in 12 inflammatory biomarkers (incl., serum amyloid A (SAA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), immunoglobin M (IgM)) across diverse conditions (infection, vaccination, surgery, exercise, Crohn's disease) and over both acute and chronic timescales; however, these markers have yet to be directly compared to venous blood sample analysis.14 It is not yet well enough established whether inflammatory biomarkers can be measured from DBS with the same quality, sensitivity, and reproducibility as from venous blood samples, while certain gaps remain regarding how DBS performs when capturing acute, stressor-induced fluctuations in circulation concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers. Addressing these gaps is critical to determine whether DBS can serve as a valid substitute for venous blood sampling in research and clinical contexts. Based on these considerations, this study aims to validate the measurement of change in inflammatory biomarkers obtained in DBS compared with paired venous blood samples following a controlled physiological stressor, using a comprehensive (48-plex) inflammatory biomarker panel.

The overarching aim of this study is to validate and compare the measurement of changes in inflammatory biomarkers obtained from dried blood spot (DBS) samples against paired venous blood samples, using the Human Cytokine/Chemokine Panel A 48-Plex (HD48A).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
50

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

  • Name: Evelyn Laferrière, BSc.
  • Phone Number: 23730 514-934-1934
  • Email: cpau.med@mcgill.ca

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Quebec
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H4A 0B1
        • Recruiting
        • Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Emily G. McDonald, MD MSc

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult participants who are planning to receive a seasonal vaccine OR have a scheduled acute stressor

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men or women aged ≥18 years, who are planning to receive a seasonal vaccine OR have a scheduled acute stressor*.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any infectious symptoms (fever, cough, rhinorrhea, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of smell or taste) within the previous 7 days
  • Any self-reported active/recent use of cocaine, injection drugs, or amphetamines
  • Acute worsening of a known chronic health condition within the previous 30 days (e.g., of IBD, COPD, asthma, rheumatologic disease)
  • Known severe allergy or intolerance to the planned vaccine

  • Contraindication to the vaccine received, if applicable

    *List of possible scheduled acute stressors include:

  • Hard exercise (incl. 10km run or longer, high-intensity interval training, or comparable endurance activity)
  • Social event with moderate alcohol consumption
  • Planned change in medication dose and/or frequency of use
  • Onset of menstruation (day 1)
  • Other pre-planned stressors expected to elicit an inflammatory response

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Concordance between inflammatory biomarker concentrations measured in DBS samples and paired venous blood samples
Time Frame: Enrollment to 3 days after exposure of stressor

Agreement and variability between both sample types will be measured using multiple approaches:

  • coefficients of variation
  • intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC)
  • Pearson correlation coefficients
  • Bland-Altman analyses.
Enrollment to 3 days after exposure of stressor

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Sensifai Health

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Emily G. McDonald, MD MSc, McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 20, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 20, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2026-11986

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Inflammation

Clinical Trials on Venous blood sampling

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings