EMBRACE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A novEl Method for measurement of renal Biomarkers in blood micRo sAmples in ChildrEn (EMBRACE)
IRAS ID
297881
Contact name
Stephen McWilliam
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Alder Hey Children's Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Children with kidney problems require frequent blood tests to monitor their condition. The most common test performed is creatinine, a measure of kidney function. This project aims to develop a new method for collecting, storing and testing blood samples to measure creatinine. After optimisation of the method, the technique will be applied to additional relevant tests in blood samples.
The new method will have benefits over the existing methods. It will require less blood (only a single drop) which can be collected more quickly and easily from children using a finger prick method (similar to checking a blood glucose level). This method is generally better tolerated by children.
The project will use existing techniques to create a paper based blood collection strip with a coating which causes blood to remain on the surface instead of soaking in to the paper. We will use an instrument called a Mass Spectrometer to directly measure the levels of creatinine in blood samples on the collection strips. Once we are happy that the collection strips and the creatinine measurement are working well, we will use them to test blood samples from children with kidney problems at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. We will compare the creatinine results from the new method with the results from the existing method used at Alder Hey to see how well it works.If it works well, the new method will help us reduce the burden of blood tests in future research studies and, ultimately, in the day-to-day care of children with kidney problems.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0299
Date of REC Opinion
31 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion