Introducing Nucleic Acid BCT While traditional storage methods, like EDTA tubes, offer brief sample integrity, they fall short in long-term room temperature storage. The new Nucleic Acid BCT™ (NA-BCT) from Streck, is a novel blood collection tube. It is a game-changer in preserving nucleic acid concentrations, maintaining cfDNA, cfRNA and EV particle levels at draw-time concentrations for up to 7 days at room temperature. This empowers laboratories to shift focus from degradation concerns to data analysis. Limit Haemolysis Whereas non-stabilising tubes, such as EDTA, or even current tubes intended for cfDNA usage, suffer from storage timedependent increases in haemolysis and related decreases in recoverable plasma volume, NA-BCT is designed to limit both [Figure 1]. This is accomplished via an optimised stabilisation solution that maintains the integrity of erythrocytes and WBCs. Blood samples stabilised in NA-BCT have decreased haemolysis compared to equivalent samples stored in other stabilisation tubes or EDTA and better maintain draw-time plasma volume during room temperature sample storage (Figure 1 B, C). This is critical for those assays containing a plasma volume requirement for their analyte extraction workflows. At the same time, retention of draw-time plasma volume directly results in increased extractable analyte yield (e.g., cfDNA yield). Maintain Draw-time Plasma cfDNA Levels Total nucleic acid was isolated from plasma using the QIAamp® Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit (Qiagen) according to the manufacturer’s “3 mL Plasma” protocol, with the exception that the 60 °C incubation was extended to 60 minutes (Figure 2A). Resultant cfDNA concentration was measured using the Qubit™ dsDNA HS Assay according to kit-included instructions (Thermo-Fisher). Sample quality was assayed using Cell-Free DNA ScreenTape analysis following the manufacturer’s protocol (Agilent Technologies). While blood collected into non-stabilising EDTA tubes demonstrates robust time-dependent increases in plasma DNA levels, equivalent donor samples collected into the NA-BCT maintain draw-time plasma cfDNA concentration for up to 7 days when stored at room temperature (Figure 2B). Further, Day-7 cfDNA size and calculated %cfDNA remain similar to draw time for blood collected into Nucleic Acid BCT™, but not donor-matched EDTA [Figure 2 C, D]. Together, these data demonstrate that NA-BCT maintains the draw-time characteristics and concentration of plasma cfDNA for up to 7 days of ambient storage. Revolutionising Liquid Biopsy Unveiling Nucleic Acid BCT Tubes Nick Parham, Senior Product Manager, Alpha Laboratories Ltd. Human blood is a treasure trove of genetic information, hosting crucial details within circulating cellfree DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA). Leveraging the simplicity of a blood draw, liquid biopsy emerges as a powerful tool, unravelling insights from cancer predisposition to the aftermath of traumatic brain injuries. The Crucial Role of Draw-Time Analysis In the realm of liquid biopsy, timing is everything. Diseases linked to elevated circulating cfDNA and cfRNA demand precise analysis, necessitating a choice: immediate evaluation or the adoption of a stabilisation tube. Stabilising blood samples, ensures an accurate reflection of what is in the patient’s circulation. Without stabilisation, samples deteriorate, releasing genomic DNA (gDNA), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and EV-associated cfRNA due to white and red blood cell breakdown. This degradation introduces non-specific increases in analytes, clouding the original sample’s analysis. Figure 1. Nucleic Acid BCT™ (NA-BCT) maintains draw-time plasma characteristics. (A) Blood was collected from self-declared healthy donors into EDTA or NA-BCT. Plasma was isolated immediately after draw (Draw) or after 7 days (Day-7) of ambient temperature storage using a generic double spin centrifugation protocol and immediately frozen at -80 °C. (B) Haemolysis of blood samples collected into EDTA or NABCT immediately after draw or after 7 days of ambient temperature storage. (C) Plasma volume is maintained to near draw-time levels in NA-BCT. 12 Leading Edge
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