Researchers at Stanford University have found that thousands of molecules from a single drop of blood can signal a person’s state of health. This has been made possible by the use of a new device, with which a person can take a blood sample from a finger and send it to a laboratory by post. This multiomic microsampling allows data on thousands of different molecules simultaneously: proteins, fats, metabolic products, and inflammatory markers. The novelty of this microsampling is that it uses a different type of data analysis – mass spectrometry, which divides molecules, taking into account their mass and electronic charge. Also, the data obtained is analyzed in the laboratory rather than in a portable box.

However, identifying an individual’s individual reaction to a food or drug requires many blood samples collected in the clinic over a short period of time. In the study, five blood samples were taken over a four-hour period. The aim of this experiment was to determine the likelihood of reducing the volume of blood collected for the multiomics test while profiling thousands of molecules. A portable Mitra device was chosen to take the samples, which draws 10 µl of blood into a gel matrix. In the end, only a few proteins were found to be unstable. A small proportion of lipids and metabolites were degraded by exposure to certain temperatures, but most were stable. By comparing the multiomic results obtained by microsampling and traditional blood sampling, the researchers found them to be identical for the majority of molecules.

The next step of the study was to determine the effects of the nutritional shake by analyzing data from 28 subjects for four hours after consuming a certain amount of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and micronutrients from the shake. It is worth noting the individual response of the participants to this drink. This is due to the different metabolic responses of the organisms to the same food. About half of all the compounds in the cocktail were found in the blood of the subjects. As a result, the researchers divided them into two groups, one of which reacted quickly and the other slower. Some also had an inflammatory response, although the molecules that take part in the immune response peaked about half an hour after consuming the mixture. Thus, by determining the immune response to certain foods, it is possible to adjust your diet accordingly.