The current state of-the-art method of serum collection method comes with the following challenges:
o Collection Blood collection in vacutainer tube by venipuncture.
o Preparation Serum separation by centrifugation.
o Storing Serum storage at -20°C or colder.
With the Ser-Col, this project delivered a unique product that addresses all three challenges of the current state of the art into in one device. The Ser-Col enables to directly withdraw serum from patient’s finger without the need to separate blood cells by centrifugation and refrigeration. This can simply be accomplished by applying blood from a single finger stick on to the device containing the special filter paper, which by lateral flow of blood cells separated the serum. The collected serum is allowed to dry within the protective case, where the serum specimen is stable at ambient temperature without sample freezing. The Ser-Col has significant advantages over existing serum separator tubes by reducing turnaround time, removing labour-intensive and sample wasting steps in the current blood diagnostic process.
The SCAUT project has:
• Demonstrated analytical and clinical validity of the Ser-Col,
• Delivered an automated platform for automated serum retrieval in diagnostic laboratory use, and
• Ser-Col devices are ready for CE-marking.
The target users of the Ser-Col® are entities performing serum collection and analysis and include patients, hospital nurses, general practitioners, clinical chemistry labs/departments, and diagnostic centres. These users have some specific, and some overlapping needs indicated in bold:
• Easy to use, serum collection tool (patients, hospital nurses, general practitioners)
Serum collection by the Ser-Col can be performed by anyone, anywhere and anytime without intimidating needles. This facilitates easy use and fast adoption in routine patient blood collection and diagnosis, improving patient recruitment and compliances.
• Automated serum analysis workflow (clinical chemistry labs/departments)
Serum value are always measured by clinical chemistry labs/departments that must achieve a high-throughput given the high workload and the pressure on cost-reduction that also these laboratories face. SCAUT will automate this process.
• Cost-efficient logistics for serum samples (patients, general practitioners, health insurance)
SCAUT works on a logistics system that does not involve patients travelling from home to collect serum, a high workload at the general practitioner’s/clinical office to collect the blood, and expenditure on specialized transport.
