Dry bloodstains are a relatively new method of sampling that has already proven its worth in anti-doping procedures.
This method allows for quick and easy collection of blood for doping control purposes, as opposed to classical blood sampling from a vein. With this method, a small volume of capillary blood is collected from a finger or forearm and applied to a special card, which is then dried and packaged for transport.
This technology has been around since the 1960s and has been widely used in medicine to diagnose various conditions, such as hereditary diseases in newborns. Samples in the form of dry blood spots do not require special transport conditions, making this method much more practical and convenient compared to conventional blood sampling.
The procedure for doping control using dry blood spot collection is similar to that of venous blood sampling, and includes the selection of a sampling kit, preparation for sampling, collection of the sample, and placement of the sample in a transport kit.
While the dry spot method doesn't replace traditional urine and venous blood tests, it can detect a smaller range of substances and is useful for mass testing or in areas where venous blood collection is difficult for logistical reasons, such as remote locations.
In November 2024, RUSADA collected 10 dry blood samples, and plans to collect several dozen more by the end of the year using this method. This could expand RUSADA's blood testing capabilities.