Why use leftover dried blood spots for research?
Blood spots contain genetic and other kinds of biomarkers-biological information that may be useful for studying birth defects or chronic diseases. DBS may also show if there was exposure to infections or toxic substances (such as pesticides, lead, etc) before birth. Studying DBS may lead to new screening tests. Research may also provide important clues about different factors that impact health or cause diseases not only in Michigan but worldwide. The samples are no longer needed after newborn screening is complete. Because many DBS samples can be provided at one time, it is easier for researchers to study very large numbers of people from all over the state. This is simpler than trying to collect a new sample from each person. This can help speed up the chance of new discoveries, improve quality, and possibly reduce the cost of research.
