- Full (HTML) - Full (PDF) - Related EHP Articles - PubMed:Related Articles - PubMed:Citation - Cited in PMC - Purchase This Issue

John C. Rockett,¹ Germaine M. Buck,² Courtney D. Lynch,² and Sally D. Perreault¹

¹Reproductive Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA; ²Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland, USA

Abstract
Detection, quantification, and prognosis of environmental exposures in humans has been vastly enhanced by the ability of epidemiologists to collect biospecimens for toxicologic or other laboratory evaluation. 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. In this review we examine biospecimens (urine and blood) that have been successfully collected from the home environment. Related issues such as storage and transportation will also be examined as well as promising new approaches for collecting less frequently studied biospecimens (including hair follicles, breast milk, semen, and others) . Such biospecimens are useful in the monitoring of reproductive development and function. Key words: biospecimen, blood, breast milk, buccal cells, hair, home collection, nail, reproduction, saliva, semen, tissue collection, urine. Environ Health Perspect 112:94-104 (2004) . doi:10.1289/ehp.6264 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 24 September 2003]

This article is part of the mini-monograph "Understanding the Determinants of Children's Health."

Address correspondence to J.C. Rockett, Reproductive Toxicology Division (MD-72) , NHEERL, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 USA. Telephone: (919) 541-2678. Fax: (919) 541-4017. E-mail: rockett.john@epa.gov

We thank D. Lobdel and C. Mamay (U.S. EPA) and members of the National Children's Study Advisory Committee's Fertility and Early Pregnancy Working Group for critically reviewing this manuscript prior to submission.

The information in this document has been subjected to review by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents reflect the views of the Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

Received 6 February 2003 ; accepted 2 July 2003.