On the Use of Image Analysis for Hematocrit Evaluation in Dried Blood Spots

Dried blood spots (DBSs) are formed by collecting a small sample of blood on specialized filter paper and allowing it to dry naturally. Various domains of life sciences and drug research extensively use DBSs as a sampling technique. The “Hematocrit (Ht) effect” affects assay bias, and several strate...

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Main Authors: Chrysa Daousani, Nađa Kostić, Anđelija Malenović, Milena Rmandić, Yannis Dotsikas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/21/9860
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author Chrysa Daousani
Nađa Kostić
Anđelija Malenović
Milena Rmandić
Yannis Dotsikas
author_facet Chrysa Daousani
Nađa Kostić
Anđelija Malenović
Milena Rmandić
Yannis Dotsikas
author_sort Chrysa Daousani
collection DOAJ
description Dried blood spots (DBSs) are formed by collecting a small sample of blood on specialized filter paper and allowing it to dry naturally. Various domains of life sciences and drug research extensively use DBSs as a sampling technique. The “Hematocrit (Ht) effect” affects assay bias, and several strategies have been put forth to deal with it, including the correction of quantified concentrations using an appropriate correction factor. The approach was previously applied, following the utilization of an image processing algorithm developed in Matlab<sup>®</sup> to derive a reliable equation correlating DBS areas to Ht% values. The present work looks more closely at the application of image analysis to the evaluation of Ht in DBS samples. Utilizing image analysis software, DBS samples with known Ht values were processed. Preparation of cards has followed a previously developed protocol for the appropriate formation of uniform area DBSs, irrespective of Ht. The resulting areas showed close resemblance to the respective theoretical areas calculated by applying the correlation equation. Following that, the equation was utilized to determine the Ht values for each sample, and a comprehensive comparison of measured versus calculated Ht was carried out using various statistical approaches for method comparison. The results demonstrated a strong correlation, suggesting the method’s viability in estimating Ht for unknown DBS samples.
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spelling doaj-art-e7e02f78c8c143faa8256cd7f799fcc42025-08-20T02:14:22ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-10-011421986010.3390/app14219860On the Use of Image Analysis for Hematocrit Evaluation in Dried Blood SpotsChrysa Daousani0Nađa Kostić1Anđelija Malenović2Milena Rmandić3Yannis Dotsikas4Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 157 84 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaLaboratory of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, 157 84 Athens, GreeceDried blood spots (DBSs) are formed by collecting a small sample of blood on specialized filter paper and allowing it to dry naturally. Various domains of life sciences and drug research extensively use DBSs as a sampling technique. The “Hematocrit (Ht) effect” affects assay bias, and several strategies have been put forth to deal with it, including the correction of quantified concentrations using an appropriate correction factor. The approach was previously applied, following the utilization of an image processing algorithm developed in Matlab<sup>®</sup> to derive a reliable equation correlating DBS areas to Ht% values. The present work looks more closely at the application of image analysis to the evaluation of Ht in DBS samples. Utilizing image analysis software, DBS samples with known Ht values were processed. Preparation of cards has followed a previously developed protocol for the appropriate formation of uniform area DBSs, irrespective of Ht. The resulting areas showed close resemblance to the respective theoretical areas calculated by applying the correlation equation. Following that, the equation was utilized to determine the Ht values for each sample, and a comprehensive comparison of measured versus calculated Ht was carried out using various statistical approaches for method comparison. The results demonstrated a strong correlation, suggesting the method’s viability in estimating Ht for unknown DBS samples.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/21/9860dried blood spotsimage analysishematocrit effectMatlab algorithm
spellingShingle Chrysa Daousani
Nađa Kostić
Anđelija Malenović
Milena Rmandić
Yannis Dotsikas
On the Use of Image Analysis for Hematocrit Evaluation in Dried Blood Spots
Applied Sciences
dried blood spots
image analysis
hematocrit effect
Matlab algorithm
title On the Use of Image Analysis for Hematocrit Evaluation in Dried Blood Spots
title_full On the Use of Image Analysis for Hematocrit Evaluation in Dried Blood Spots
title_fullStr On the Use of Image Analysis for Hematocrit Evaluation in Dried Blood Spots
title_full_unstemmed On the Use of Image Analysis for Hematocrit Evaluation in Dried Blood Spots
title_short On the Use of Image Analysis for Hematocrit Evaluation in Dried Blood Spots
title_sort on the use of image analysis for hematocrit evaluation in dried blood spots
topic dried blood spots
image analysis
hematocrit effect
Matlab algorithm
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/21/9860
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