Lay summary
Premenopausal females will menstruate ~9-12 times a year. The regularity of menstrual bleeding provides the opportunity for convenient, regular, non-invasive whole blood collection, which can be easily collected by the female herself (e.g., in the comfort of her home, or private space). Research has shown dried menstrual blood to be a valid blood source to measure health metrics in. But no research has considered the reliability, validity, social/cultural perceptions, and acceptability of using whole menstrual blood and self-testing methods in females of different ethnic cohorts (e.g., Māori, Pasifika, Asian and European). This project will be using a mixed methods approach to determine the validity of menstrual blood for health screening and the perceptions, preferences, and acceptability of self-testing and screening via menstrual blood from females throughout New Zealand. This novel research and concept have the ability to transform health screening for females throughout New Zealand.