Blood Sample

Researchers are investigating a new method to help locate a specific vein on the forearm (the distal cephalic vein) in young children undergoing surgery. This study focuses on children under six years old having elective procedures under general anesthesia. The goal is to find a simple, reliable anatomical landmark to guide the placement of a topical anesthetic patch (EMLA) to ease venipuncture, which can be challenging due to small or hard-to-see veins in young children. Ultrasound is used as a reference standard to validate the landmark's accuracy. The study has two parts: first, ultrasound is used to map and mark the vein's course on the skin during anesthesia, and photographic documentation is collected to develop the landmark. In the second part, anesthesia staff and parents apply the landmark or an EMLA patch guided by a visual instruction, and ultrasound checks if the vein lies beneath the marked or treated area. No additional needle punctures or blood samples are taken beyond routine care. Participants contribute data at one time point during their surgery preparation. Ultrasound measurements include whether the vein is under the marked area, vein depth, diameter, and course. Data are collected securely and pseudonymized. The study involves no added risks, no additional pain, and no biological samples. The main outcome is the success rate of locating the vein within the marked or EMLA-covered area during anesthesia.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of a dietary supplement on blood-based nutritional biomarkers in healthy children aged 4 to 15 years. This pilot clinical study aims to gather preliminary data on how the supplement influences serum levels of vitamin D, vitamin B12, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, and other blood count parameters. The study is conducted by SF Research Institute, Inc. and focuses on understanding nutritional status through biomarker changes. The study involves a single group of participants who will take an investigational gummy dietary supplement called Kids Multi & Omegas. Children will be instructed to take two gummies once daily, with or without food, for a total of 4 weeks. Blood samples will be collected at the start and end of the study to assess changes in selected serum nutritional biomarkers. Participants will also undergo measurements of height, weight, and body mass index, and complete a socioeconomic questionnaire. Participants will attend two clinic visits: one for screening and baseline assessments and another at the end of the 4-week supplementation period. During the study, children or their caregivers will keep a daily diary recording supplement intake, medication use, and any side effects. Researchers will review compliance, collect blood samples, and assess changes in nutritional biomarkers and physical measurements. The total study duration for each participant is approximately 4 weeks.

Thick meconium in the amniotic fluid occurs in about one out of seven pregnancies and can increase the chance of breathing problems for newborns, such as needing oxygen or breathing support, NICU admission, or severe issues like meconium aspiration syndrome or persistent pulmonary hypertension. Previous studies on amnioinfusion—a procedure that places sterile fluid into the uterus during labor—had limitations like varied meconium types and inconsistent protocols. This trial aims to determine if a modern, standardized warm lactated Ringer's (LR) amnioinfusion can reduce newborn respiratory problems when thick meconium is present. Participants who are at least 36 weeks pregnant with confirmed thick meconium-stained amniotic fluid will be randomly assigned to either receive a warm LR amnioinfusion through an intrauterine pressure catheter or standard care without amnioinfusion. The intervention involves a 500 mL bolus of warmed LR infused over 30 minutes, followed by a maintenance infusion until the fluid clears or delivery occurs. Ultrasound checks and infusion details are recorded to ensure the procedure follows a strict protocol. During the study, researchers will collect umbilical cord blood at birth to measure inflammation and brain injury markers. They will monitor newborn respiratory health for 72 hours, including oxygen needs, breathing support, NICU admission, and other complications. Families will be contacted when the child is 12 months old to complete a developmental questionnaire. The trial also tracks longer-term respiratory and healthcare outcomes, aiming to provide strong evidence for care during labor when thick meconium is present.

Researchers are collecting various biological samples, such as blood, urine, body fluids, skin swabs, and skin biopsies, to support medical research conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center. The samples help study infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis, immune system responses, and the development of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The study includes children from 3 years old and adults, including healthy volunteers and those with infections or allergic or autoimmune conditions. Specimens are collected through standard blood draws (phlebotomy) or apheresis, which involves removing blood, separating desired components like plasma or white blood cells, and returning the rest to the participant. The apheresis procedure takes about 1 to 3 hours with the participant reclining. Samples may also include mucosal secretions, skin swabs, and biopsies. Collection can occur at clinic visits, outside labs, or at home, with shipments sent to the research center. Participants may donate samples once or repeatedly over a 1-year enrollment period, which can be extended. Participants undergo sample collection and provide basic medical and demographic information linked to their samples by ID number only. The study monitors safety during procedures and collects data on participant identity proof and consent. There are no specific study endpoints as samples support various research projects. Participation can last a year or more, with ongoing review by an ethics committee. The primary outcome measured is the successful collection of samples for research use.

The aPPPle pilot study aims to explore how people involved with apple crops, including operators applying plant protection products (PPPs), workers doing manual tasks, and nearby residents, might be exposed to certain pesticides and fungicides. It focuses on acetamiprid, dithianon, and dodine, substances used in apple orchards, especially since these applications happen at higher altitudes where exposure risk may be greater. This observational study helps prepare for a larger future study by testing feasibility and collecting initial data. Participants are grouped as operators applying PPPs to apple crops, manual workers like pruners or harvesters in the orchards, residents living adjacent to the orchards, and controls living between 10 and 150 kilometers away from any apple orchards. The study observes exposure during work or application periods, collecting urine samples up to 48 hours after exposure and blood samples to analyze effect biomarkers. Controls provide samples at a single time point for comparison. During the study, researchers measure concentrations of the substances and their metabolites in various samples from participants, including urine collected soon after exposure and blood plasma over a week. They assess physiological changes through biomarkers in blood and metabolome analysis. Participants must understand the study, consent in writing, and have health insurance. The study runs from March 2025 to December 2025, focusing on collecting accurate exposure and health effect data.

This research aims to evaluate how well an autonomous blood drawing device works and whether it is safe. The study includes several phases, with Phase B1 being a key clinical trial to confirm that the device performs at least as well as manual blood drawing, which is important for regulatory approval. Earlier and later phases focus on improving the technology and usability, including testing non-invasive features like ultrasound detection. Participants will receive blood draws using the Venipuncture Device, which fully automates the procedure by detecting veins with near-infrared and ultrasound imaging, inserting a needle robotically, connecting blood tubes, and applying pressure to the puncture site. Depending on the phase, the device may replace or supplement manual blood draws. Some phases involve one or two automated draws, and the technology is progressively improved, with more manual steps required in early phases and fewer later on. During the study, participants will undergo standard blood drawing procedures at outpatient blood drawing departments or at a volunteer site. Researchers will measure the success rate of first-time venipuncture, the rate of punctured participants, hemolyzed samples, and adverse events over seven days. The study includes safety monitoring, and participant involvement varies by phase, with some receiving additional automated blood draws beyond routine care.

Musculoskeletal disorders include a wide range of diseases such as degenerative conditions, trauma, genetic and metabolic diseases, and tumors that affect the bones and muscles. These disorders cause significant disability and impact both individuals and society. This research focuses on creating a biobank of biological material from patients to support further studies aimed at understanding and treating these conditions, especially those like osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and bone tumors. The study involves collecting waste biological materials from patients admitted to the institute who are undergoing surgeries or biopsies related to musculoskeletal conditions. This includes patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, primary and secondary bone tumors, and those having prosthetic surgery due to implant infections. The collected materials will be stored in a biobank for future bio-molecular characterization and research purposes. Participants will provide informed consent and contribute biological samples during their hospital procedures. Researchers will monitor the collection and storage of these materials over a period of five years. The project aims to establish a valuable resource to facilitate new research projects on musculoskeletal disorders, with no direct treatment intervention for participants. The study started in 2017 and is expected to continue until 2027.

Researchers are conducting a large observational study to evaluate new biochemical and electrocardiographic markers, both alone and combined with the standard 12-lead exercise ECG, to detect exercise-induced myocardial ischemia, which is linked to coronary artery disease (CAD). The study also aims to assess these markers' ability to predict the risk of cardiovascular death and heart attacks over long-term follow-up. This approach is important since current imaging techniques for CAD detection involve risks, are costly, and mainly provide anatomical rather than functional information. The study involves enrolling about 4200 patients suspected of having exercise-induced myocardial ischemia who are referred for rest or exercise myocardial perfusion SPECT testing. Before the exercise stress test, venous blood samples will be collected to measure various biochemical markers possibly related to ischemia, such as cardiac troponins, B-type natriuretic peptide, IL-6, and cardiac microRNA. Additionally, continuous ECG recordings will be obtained before, during, and after exercise using advanced devices and processing methods to identify new electronic markers. All tests will be analyzed without knowledge of patient clinical data to ensure unbiased results. Participants will undergo the exercise stress testing and blood sampling at baseline. Follow-up will be conducted at 1, 2, 5, and 8 years to record clinical outcomes including death, cardiovascular death, heart attacks, and coronary revascularization. The research team will evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of the new biochemical and ECG signatures at baseline and monitor long-term event-free survival. This comprehensive approach aims to improve non-invasive detection and risk assessment for patients with suspected CAD, potentially simplifying current testing and reducing exposure to radiation and contrast agents.

Researchers are investigating blood biomarkers to improve early screening for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This observational study focuses on patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD, and cognitively normal individuals. The goal is to identify key blood biomarkers suitable for early detection and to build a comprehensive model combining biomarkers and clinical information. The study is sponsored by Peking University First Hospital. Participants will have blood samples taken to test for specific biomarkers including Aβ40, Aβ42, P-Tau181, P-Tau217, GFAP, and NfL. These tests aim to evaluate their diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's and MCI. The study will observe individuals at different stages of cognitive health to understand how these biomarkers perform across groups. During the two-year study period, participants will undergo cognitive assessments and blood draws as part of the evaluation. Researchers will monitor the accuracy of these biomarkers in diagnosing AD and MCI. The study also aims to develop a model that combines blood biomarker results with clinical information to aid early identification. Participation involves regular assessments and cooperation with blood sampling and cognitive testing.

This research aims to compare usual care with biomarker-directed care using blood eosinophil counts for managing patients with mild to moderate asthma in a primary care setting. The goal is to evaluate whether guiding asthma treatment by blood eosinophil count can reduce asthma attacks, improve symptom control, and enhance quality of life compared to standard care. The study is sponsored by the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics and focuses on adults aged 21 to 65 with asthma. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group receives asthma management guided by blood eosinophil counts (biomarker-directed treatment), while the control group receives usual care without the use of this biomarker. Treatment follows the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2025 guidelines for mild to moderate asthma (steps 1 to 3). The study includes approximately one year of follow-up with visits about every four months. During the study, researchers will monitor the time to the first asthma attack requiring hospitalization, the number of non-hospitalized asthma exacerbations, and worsening of asthma symptoms over 12 months. They will also assess quality of life, asthma control, lung function tests, and healthcare visits related to asthma. Participants must be able to attend scheduled appointments and provide informed consent, with safety and adherence monitored throughout the study period.