The researchers at  Tufts University has developed a innovative way  to store and stabilize  blood samples for longer durations by using using a silk protein to stabilize blood samples without the need for cooling. The team describes, how the silk protein is used to preserve blood samples and how the results can be recovered via dissolution in water when ready for testing

This technique will definitely facilitate outpatient blood collection for disease screening and will serve needs of researchers & clinicians without access to centralized testing facilities.

This idea is still far from commercialization and testing is being done under ideal controllable conditions. It will be interesting to see how these silk based samples will overcome challenges when exposed to real world conditions like hot arid desert where there is a lot of dust or a muggy rain forest, and perhaps most importantly, when there may be long time delays. The team is confident about the positive results in these conditions and has plans for mass production soon.

Read more at: http://now.tufts.edu/news-releases/silk-stabilizes-blood-samples-months-high-temperatures