Low-volume collection devices for longitudinal biomarker monitoring in patient-centric sampling settings

Advances in analytical techniques now enable biomarker detection from sample volumes as small as one microliter, reducing the need for large-volume specimen collection. This capability has supported the development of low-volume blood collection devices that allow frequent, longitudinal sampling outside traditional healthcare facilities, promoting decentralized and patient-centered sampling (PCS). The development of user-friendly, at-home sampling devices with reduced invasiveness and minimized sampling discomfort further enhances participant recruitment and retention in long-term longitudinal studies. These longitudinal studies are essential for tracking disease progression, uncovering molecular mechanisms underlying disease, and gaining insights into how external stimuli, such as diet, medication and physical activity, affect physiological responses. In this review, we highlight current low-volume sampling technologies and their role in longitudinal PCS environments, alongside biomarker detection assays for small-volume specimens.