Patient centric sampling is an approach for obtaining high quality biological samples (e.g. blood, plasma, urine, etc) from humans at any time and in any location for the determination of circulating concentrations of molecules of interest or the examination of cell types and quantities. These concentrations are routinely used to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and for a number of other applications, including development of new drugs, drug testing in sport, determination of nutritional status, etc.

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The aim of patient centric sampling approach is to minimize the impact on the person from which the sample is being collected and, in many cases, increase access by a patient to their own health status information. In some cases, it may be possible for the person to collect the sample themselves, or with the help of a care giver. Technologies involved in the patient centric sampling approach may enable the blood sample to be collected in a setting that is more convenient for the person, such as their home, or a local pharmacy. It differs from traditional venous blood sampling in that samples are obtained from regions of the body such as the finger, the upper arm, or lower back, rendering the blood collection less painful.