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THE VALUE OF HOME-BASED COLLECTION OF BIOSPECIMENS IN REPRODUCTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY
Citation:
Rockett, J C., G. M. Buck, C. Lynch, AND S D. PERREAULT. THE VALUE OF HOME-BASED COLLECTION OF BIOSPECIMENS IN REPRODUCTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 112(1):94-104, (2004).
Description:
The Value of Home-Based Collection of Biospecimens in Reproductive Epidemiology
John C. Rockett1, Germaine M. Buck2, Courtney D. Johnson2 and Sally D. Perreault1
1Reproductive Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA, and 2Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, 6100 Executive Blvd., Room 7B03, Rockville, MD 20852
Abstract
Detection and quantification of environmental exposures in humans has been vastly enhanced by the ability of epidemiologists to collect biospecimens necessary for toxicologic or other laboratory evaluation. When interpreting results, caution is often needed if biospecimens were collected for a nonrepresentative sample of the study population. Ease of collection and level of invasiveness are commonly cited reasons why study participants fail to provide biospecimens for research purposes. The use of methodologies for the collection of biospecimens in the home offers promise for improving the validity of health effects linked to environmental exposures while maximizing the number and type of specimens capable of being collected in a timely and cost effective manner. This review examines biospecimens that have been successfully collected from the home environment (e.g., urine and blood) and related issues such as storage and transportation, as well as promising new approaches for collecting infrequently studied tissue (e.g., hair follicles). The use of such tissues is exemplified in most cases by their application to the monitoring of reproductive development and function.