Blood spot insulin as an alternative to plasma insulin in children
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Blood spot insulin as an alternative to plasma insulin in children
IRAS ID
199179
Contact name
Senthil Senniappan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Alder Hey Children's Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
This is an observational study comparing insulin that is measured in plasma to insulin measured using a blood spot. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. If it is too high or too low it can make a child very unwell. Currently, we measure insulin using a plasma bloods sample in children –at least half a ml of blood and the sample is unstable requiring immediate transfer to the lab on ice. There is evidence that insulin can be measured using a blood spot, like with newborn screening, which requires less blood and is much more stable. We would like to test whether blood spot insulin is reliable compared to plasma insulin.
Participants will be identified who are having insulin measured anyway as part of their routine clinical care and prospectively consented. They will have a small amount of extra blood taken at the same time as their clinical sample, with some patients requiring one further finger prick blood test additionally. The results of these blood samples will then be compared as part of the study.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NE/0124
Date of REC Opinion
8 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion