How At-Home Dried Spot Testing Is Making Diagnostics More Sustainable

As at-home diagnostic testing expands globally, sustainability is becoming a priority. Before exploring the environmental benefits, it’s important to understand what makes dried sampling technologies fundamentally different.

What Is Dried Spot Testing? A Guide for Health Plans

Dried sampling technologies refer to methods where small volumes of biological fluids—such as blood, urine, or saliva—are collected onto specialized absorbent cards and allowed to dry.

The most common formats include:

• Dried Blood Spot (DBS): Capillary blood collected via finger prick 
• Dried Urine Spot (DUS):  Urine samples applied to filter cards 

Once dried, these samples become stable and can be transported to laboratories for analysis without the need for refrigeration or complex handling. This approach is enabling a shift toward at-home testing, decentralized diagnostics, and more sustainable healthcare models.

Why Sustainable Diagnostic Testing Is a Growing Priority

The growth of at-home health testing and remote patient monitoring is increasing the number of samples collected and transported globally.

Traditional diagnostic workflows—often based on liquid samples—can generate:

• High levels of plastic waste 
• Significant transport-related emissions 
• Energy-intensive cold-chain logistics 

As testing volumes grow, so does the need for more sustainable solutions. Dried sampling technology has numerous positive environmental benefits throughout its lifecycle.

1. Eliminating Cold-Chain Logistics

Liquid samples typically require controlled temperatures during transport, which means:

• Refrigeration or freezing 
• Insulated packaging 
• Expedited shipping 

These factors can increase both energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Dried spot samples, by contrast:

• Remain stable at ambient temperature 
• Do not require cold-chain infrastructure 
• Can be shipped using standard postal services 

This can lead to a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of diagnostic logistics.

2. Less Plastic, Less Waste

Traditional liquid-based kits rely on multiple plastic components, including tubes, vials, and protective containers.

Dried sampling technologies simplify the system:

• Samples are collected on lightweight cards 
• Packaging is minimized 
• Fewer consumables are required 

The result is a reduction in plastic waste per test, supporting more sustainable product design.

3. Lightweight Design, Lower Emissions

Dried sampling kits are inherently:

• Compact 
• Lightweight 
• Easy to transport 

Compared to liquid sample kits, they reduce:

• Shipping volume 
• Fuel consumption 
• Overall logistics impact 

At scale, this can translate into meaningful emissions reduction across the supply chain.

The Materials That Make At-Home Testing More Sustainable

Achieving both sustainability and performance depends on the quality of the sampling materials.

Ahlstrom and EBF is Ash’s provider for specialized filter papers and absorbent substrates designed specifically for dried sampling applications.

The materials are engineered to:

• Ensure consistent sample absorption and distribution 
• Maintain analyte stability over time 
• Enable accurate and reproducible results 

By integrating high-performance materials, Ahlstrom and EBF enables Ash to deliver solutions that reduce environmental impact while maintaining screening standards.

Scaling Sustainable Diagnostics: What Dried Spot Testing Makes Possible

As diagnostic testing continues to expand globally, sustainability must scale with it.

Dried spot technologies enable:

• Large-scale screening with reduced environmental burden 
• Efficient distribution of at-home test kits 
• Lower operational costs linked to logistics and materials 

This makes them a strong fit for organizations looking to align innovation with environmental responsibility.

With Ash’s expertise in at-home testing solutions and advanced materials from Ahlstrom and EBF, the future of diagnostics can be not only patient-centric – but also environmentally responsible.

Learn more about Ash’s programs and testing technology here.

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