Application of Dried Blood Spot Sampling Equipment and Method in Doping Control

Objective: To explore DBS sampling method that meet the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) by comparing the effects of different blood collection equipment and needles in conducting dried blood spot(DBS) equipment tests on the fingertips or upper arms of athletes. Methods: 12 Doping Control Officers collected samples from 60 athletes of Summer and Winter Olympics using DBS methods in different combinations. The blood collection equipment including 5 brands: Tasso, Hemaxis,HemaSpot, Capitainer and Jinhao, and the needles were Schley Low volume(SL), Schley medium volume(SM), Schley high volume(SH), BD low volume(BDL), BD medium volume(BDM), and BD high volume(BDH). Statistical analysis was conducted on athletes' doping test preference, sampling pain sensation, bleeding, blood sampling time, and failure during blood sample collection.Results: 1) Athletes preferred DBS sampling method rather than traditional doping urine test and blood test(P<0.01); 2) BDL needles have the lowest qualification rate in blood sampling by comparing with the other 5 types of needles(P<0.01), and the blood collection volume of BDL needle didn't meet WADA requirements. The qualification rate of arm blood sampling was lower than that of fingertip,and the qualification rate of blood collection with BDM and BDH needles were higher than the three Schley needles with no significant difference(P>0.05); 3) the time of arm blood collection was significantly longer than that of fingertip(P<0.01); 4) the number of finger massage when using the BDH needle was significantly less than other needles(P<0.01), and the number of finger massage was less when using BDM needles than that of SM(P<0.01) and BDL(P<0.05) needles; 5) the reasons for the failure of blood collection were insufficient blood volume and blood coagulation. The Capitainer blood collection device with each needle has the highest failure rate, and the HemaXis and HemaSpot with each needle have a lower failure rate. Conclusion: 1) The fingertip blood collection method is recommended when using DBS technology to collect blood samples; 2) BDM and BDH needles are recommended in blood sampling; 3) considering the blood collection equipment, athlete preference, pain sensation, blood collection qualification rate and blood collection time, the Capitiner blood collection equipment is not recommended. HemaXis is recommended to be used with BDM or BDH needles, and HemaSpot is recommended to be used with SL, SM, SH, BDM, BDH needles.