microsamples
Minute test quantities
Microsamples are very small quantities of material collected for analysis, typically in scientific or medical contexts.
The term appears most often in research settings where collecting large amounts would be impractical, invasive, or destructive—such as blood draws that require only a few drops rather than full vials, or environmental samples taken from delicate ecosystems.
The study used dried blood microsamples that participants collected at home.
Microsampling techniques have gained popularity for their convenience and reduced impact on subjects.
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- diagnosticsMethods identifying problems
- environmentalOf natural surroundings
- archaeologicalOf studying ancient remains
- geologicalOf Earth's physical structure
pharmaceutical · toxicology · doping · clinical trials · biobanking · paleontology · conservation · authentication
Disposable soft paper
- cellsBasic biological units
- DNAHereditary code molecule
- RNAGene expression molecule
- proteinsAmino acid polymers
biopsy · blood · saliva · hair · skin · urine · swabs · enzymes
One-millionth liter unit
- nanogramBillionth of a gram
- traceMinute remnant or pursue
- minuteSixtieth of an hour
- minusculeExtremely small in size
tiny · microscopic · nanoscale · microgram · femtoliter · infinitesimal · droplet · speck
Study of light-matter interaction
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- mass spectrometryMeasures ionic weight ratios
- quantificationExpressing something numerically
- detectionAct of finding something
concentration · assay · measurement · sensitivity · specificity · calibration · validation · reproducibility
Liquid-measuring lab tubes
- microtubesSmall cylindrical lab containers
- capillarySmallest blood vessel
- swabsAbsorbent sampling tools
- lancetSmall surgical knife
aspiration · cryopreservation · storage · handling · labeling · transport · vials · containers
forensics
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- diagnosticsMethods identifying problems
- environmentalOf natural surroundings
- archaeologicalOf studying ancient remains
geological · pharmaceutical · toxicology · doping · clinical trials · biobanking · paleontology · conservation · authentication · provenance
tissue
Disposable soft paper
proteins · biopsy · blood · saliva · hair · skin · urine · swabs · enzymes · antibodies
microliter
One-millionth liter unit
minuscule · tiny · microscopic · nanoscale · microgram · femtoliter · infinitesimal · droplet · speck · fraction
spectroscopy
Study of light-matter interaction
- chromatographyTechnique separating mixtures by differential migration
- mass spectrometryMeasures ionic weight ratios
- quantificationExpressing something numerically
detection · concentration · assay · measurement · sensitivity · specificity · calibration · validation · reproducibility · accuracy
pipettes
Liquid-measuring lab tubes
- microtubesSmall cylindrical lab containers
- capillarySmallest blood vessel
- swabsAbsorbent sampling tools
lancet · aspiration · cryopreservation · storage · handling · labeling · transport · vials · containers · sterile