The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or withdrawing a substance or substances such as blood or interstitial fluid, from subjects, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for withdrawing or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a fluid transporter (for example, one or more microneedles), and a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some cases, the device may be self-contained, and in certain instances, the device can be applied to the skin, and activated to withdraw blood from the subject. The device, or a portion thereof, may then be processed to determine the blood and/or an analyte within the blood, alone or with an external apparatus. For example, blood may be withdrawn from the device, and/or the device may contain sensors or agents able to determine the blood and/or an analyte suspected of being contained in the blood. Other aspects of the present invention are directed at other devices for withdrawing blood (or other bodily fluids, e.g., interstitial fluid), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids) from a subject, e.g., from or beneath the skin of a subject. In some cases, the blood (or other bodily fluids) may be deposited on a membrane or other substrate. For example, blood may be absorbed in a substrate, and dried in some cases to produce a dried blood spot. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for receiving blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin, using devices including a substance transfer component (which may contain, for example, one or more microneedles), and directing the blood on a substrate, e.g., for absorbing blood. The substrate, in some embodiments, may comprise filter paper or cotton-based paper. After absorption of some blood onto the substrate, the substrate may be removed from the device and shipped or analyzed. In some cases, the device itself may be shipped or analyzed. For example, in some embodiments, a portion of the device may be sealed such that the substrate is contained within an airtight portion of the device, optionally containing desiccant. Other aspects are generally directed at other devices for receiving blood (or other bodily fluids), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

In some embodiments, the present invention generally relates to the separation of blood within a device to form plasma or serum. In some embodiments, the present invention generally relates to the removal of fluids, such as blood, contained within a device. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to systems and methods for receiving blood from a subject and processing the blood to form plasma or serum. For example, a device may be applied to the skin of a subject to receive blood from the subject and pass the blood through a separation membrane, which separates the blood into plasma and a portion concentrated in blood cells. As another example, blood or plasma may be allowed to clot within the device and serum (the unclotted portion of the blood) may be withdrawn from the device. The device may contain, in some cases, a vacuum source such as a pre-packaged vacuum to facilitate receiving of blood and/or passage of the blood through the separation membrane to produce plasma or serum. In certain embodiments, plasma, serum, or other fluids may be removed from the device by inserting a needle into a portion of the device that has reduced pressure, expelling gas into the device through the needle, then receiving plasma, serum, or other fluids through the needle.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for delivering and/or withdrawing a substance or substances such as blood or interstitial fluid, from subjects, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin. In one aspect, the present invention is generally directed to devices and methods for withdrawing or extracting blood from a subject, e.g., from the skin and/or from beneath the skin, using devices containing a fluid transporter (for example, one or more microneedles), and a storage chamber having an internal pressure less than atmospheric pressure prior to receiving blood. In some cases, the device may be self-contained, and in certain instances, the device can be applied to the skin, and activated to withdraw blood from the subject. The device, or a portion thereof, may then be processed to determine the blood and/or an analyte within the blood, alone or with an external apparatus. For example, blood may be withdrawn from the device, and/or the device may contain sensors or agents able to determine the blood and/or an analyte suspected of being contained in the blood. Other aspects of the present invention are directed at other devices for withdrawing blood (or other bodily fluids, e.g., interstitial fluid), kits involving such devices, methods of making such devices, methods of using such devices, and the like.

A device for obtaining a biological sample, such as a capillary blood collection device, that has the ability to lance and squeeze the finger, collect the sample, stabilize the sample, and subsequently dispense the sample in a controlled manner is disclosed. The device also simplifies and streamlines the capillary blood collection by eliminating workflow variabilities which are typically associated with low sample quality including hemolysis and micro-clots.

Provided herein, are matrices and methods for the stabilization of proteins and nucleic acids. The stabilized proteins and nucleic acids described herein can be in a sample taken from a subject and can be subsequently stabilized and stored on the matrix. An analyte of interest can be concentrated and eluted for analysis from this sample. The stabilized proteins and nucleic acids described herein can be components of a sample preparation reagent, and the reagent is stored on the matrix and hydration of the matrix with a sample can result in a reaction occurring.

Methods and systems for collecting and analyzing blood are provided. The methods and systems generally operate by collecting a blood sample on a portion of a lancet and subjecting the blood sample to optical spectroscopy.

A device for obtaining a biological sample, such as a capillary blood collection device, that has the ability to lance and squeeze the finger, collect the sample, stabilize the sample, and subsequently dispense the sample in a controlled manner is disclosed. The device also simplifies and streamlines the capillary blood collection by eliminating workflow variabilities which are typically associated with low sample quality including hemolysis and micro-clots.

A biological fluid sampling device for collecting a blood sample from a separate vascular access device and for ejecting a portion of the collected sample to a point-of-care testing device for analysis is provided. The biological fluid sampling device includes a body enclosing a reservoir. The reservoir has an internal volume sufficient to contain enough blood for use in a diagnostic test. The sampling device further includes: an access lumen extending from a distal end of the body for establishing fluid communication between a separate vascular access device and the reservoir; an outflow lumen also in fluid communication with the reservoir; and a removable vented cap attached to the outflow lumen including a gas permeable vent in gaseous communication between the reservoir and ambient air. In addition, several sample and transfer devices are provided for obtaining a sample from a subject and transferring the sample to a point-of-care testing device.

A blood collection device including a flow path to flow blood by capillary action capable of collecting a large amount of blood is provided. The blood collection device includes an introduction inlet 23 for introducing the blood of the subject M, a substrate 20 connected to the introduction inlet 23 and including a flow path 25 to flow the blood by capillary action, and a cooling body 30 for cooling the flow path 25.