A test based on viral DNA extraction from neonatal dried blood spots on Guthrie cards and its amplification by means of a nested PCR (DBS test) seems to offer the best characteristics for use in screening.
Detection of viral DNA in dried blood spots using the Guthrie card (DBS test) is a reliable and practical method of diagnosing congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
Dried spots on filter paper made of whole blood (dried blood spots; DBS), plasma (dried plasma spots; DPS) or serum (dried serum spots) hold promise as an affordable and practical alternative specimen source to liquid plasma for HIV type-1 (HIV-1) viral load determination and drug resistance genotyping in the context of the rapidly expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-1-infected individuals in low- and middle-income countries.
Quantification methods were developed and validated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to analyze albendazole and its metabolites albendazole sulfoxide and albendazole sulfone in wet samples (plasma and blood) and blood microsamples (dried-blood spots [DBS]; Mitra).
Resultant dried blood spots may be employed for DNA extraction using a variety of technologies for nucleic acid amplification without the need for repeated cleaning of scissors or punches to prevent cross contamination of samples and results are comparable to traditional DBS.