Putting Blood Collection at Patients’ Fingertips… Literally

We’re nearly a quarter into the 21^st century, yet the primary method for collecting blood samples has been relatively unchanged since the 1950s. There will continue to be an important place for venipuncture, at least for the foreseeable future, but isn’t it time for something new that can help improve healthcare access while also making the process less invasive and painful for patients?
 
That time is now.
 
When you need to have blood drawn, whether for a routine physical or as part of chronic condition management, you probably have to go through several steps of making an appointment with a doctor, then waiting, seeing the doctor who orders bloodwork, making an appointment with the lab, then waiting some more, before finally, a phlebotomist draws vials of blood from a vein in your arm. All those steps may mean taking time off work or being away from the kids (if you can find childcare) or with them in tow and finding a way to get to the various offices and labs (if there are even any nearby).
 
Imagine instead if you could just visit your local retail pharmacy or clinic with an order for bloodwork at a time of your choosing, without an appointment, and trained personnel (not necessarily a phlebotomist) places a small device on your fingertip that takes just a little blood in a matter of minutes. It’s sent off to the lab for processing and you have results in a matter of days for some of the most commonly ordered tests. 
 
This easier process—like your local pharmacy—is just around the corner.
 
Late last year, BD received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for a novel blood collection device that produces lab-quality results from blood obtained through a simple fingerstick.
 
The BD MiniDraw Capillary Blood Collection System is intended for use by healthcare professionals with or without prior phlebotomy experience, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and other healthcare workers trained by reviewing the instructions for use. It’s designed for use in non-traditional care settings to help make it more convenient and accessible to more patients.
 
A study was done jointly by BD and Babson Diagnostics – with whom BD partnered with to advance the development of a blood capillary system for use in retail pharmacy settings. Patients favored the BD MiniDraw over traditional venous blood collection, with the majority of respondents preferring the new system. 
 
The lab-quality results from BD MiniDraw collected samples require only a fraction of the blood volume required for venous blood tests. For comparison, the BD Vacutainer tubes for venous blood draws require 100, 150, or 200 drops of blood. The BD MiniDraw requires only six to 18 drops.
 
The 510(k) clearances include low-volume blood collection for a lipid panel, selected chemistry tests, and hemoglobin and hematocrit (H&H) testing, which are among the most-ordered lab tests and can be used to diagnose and monitor a variety of chronic conditions from hypertension to high cholesterol. BD plans to expand the type of blood tests enabled by the BD MiniDraw collection.
 
We think it’s revolutionary – but we expect the adoption to be evolutionary.

Making Blood Testing More Accessible Than Ever

The BD MiniDraw is a potentially transformative device, and its implications for patients are significant, in large part because getting access to health care continues to pose many challenges. 
 
In rural communities in the U.S., 80 hospitals have closed since 2010, and almost 700 may soon follow. As they do, patients with nowhere else to turn are taking longer and longer treks to healthcare facilities to get basic and complex care, straining the capacities of even the largest healthcare systems. 
 
If we look deeper, we see ongoing inequities faced by people of color in the U.S. that pose a significant barrier to healthcare access. These communities experience health disparities in terms of both literal access, with challenges around geographic location of blood testing labs, as well as the impact of a variety of chronic conditions and diseases. 
 
These disparities, coupled with socioeconomic challenges, are exacerbated by inconveniences like long wait times for doctor or lab visits. Whether considering preventative care and routine bloodwork or regular testing related to chronic conditions, being able to have blood taken in more convenient places like a retail pharmacy can only help close the gaps. 
 
Part of the evolution is, of course, around how the technology can benefit the patient. The CDC tells us that as many as one in four adults have strong fears about needles. If we can sidestep that fear by offering a less invasive and less scary-looking approach, we’re already doing it better. When we consider health access let’s look at just the most literal definition of actual “access” to care, meaning more physical “brick and mortar” places. By making blood testing available in retail pharmacies, those in the medical community can better meet their patient’s needs in the spaces where those patients are more likely to be, also reducing the burden on patients to make appointments or travel. BD MiniDraw can help open doors for people who struggle with convenient access to a doctor’s office or lab, and that open door may help lead to a healthier life.
 
For the foreseeable future, there will continue to be a need for traditional venous blood draws. Globally, 82 patients every second have venous samples collected with BD blood tubes. Today, we’re doing more and better so that more people can get the tests they need. BD MiniDraw will help put a better blood-collection experience at patients’ fingertips. 

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Bridget C. Bagnato, President of Specimen Management at BD Life Sciences: As President of Specimen Management, Bridget Bagnato is responsible for driving global strategic, operational, and commercial performance and customer experience across the Specimen Management portfolio. Bagnato joined BD Life Sciences in July 2023 as VP/GM of Specimen Management from the BD Surgery business where she led the vision and strategic direction for the newly created Surgical Complication Solutions platform. Notably, she led the team through two new launches, expanding the intra-operative footprint across the $800M+ portfolio.