Norgen cf-DNA/cf-RNA Preservative Tubes: Secure Sample Integrity for 30 Days
In the era of liquid biopsy and non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), sample degradation is the silent enemy of reliable data. Standard EDTA tubes often fail to prevent apoptosis and cell lysis during transport, leading to the release of high molecular weight genomic DNA (gDNA) that dilutes your target cf-DNA and cf-RNA. This contamination renders low-abundance targets undetectable and complicates downstream sequencing.
Stop compromising your sensitivity due to transport logistics. The Norgen Biotek cf-DNA/cf-RNA Preservative Tubes are engineered to overcome these hurdles. By utilising a proprietary, formaldehyde-free preservative, these tubes stabilise nucleated blood cells immediately upon draw, preventing the release of gDNA and ensuring your plasma fraction represents the true in vivo circulating nucleic acid profile.
Key Benefits:
- Unmatched Stability: Preserve cf-DNA and cf-RNA for up to 30 days at room temperature (15°C–25°C). This eliminates the need for cold-chain shipping, significantly reducing logistics costs.
- Superior Purity: Prevent haemolysis and apoptosis. The preservative effectively stabilises blood cells, ensuring the plasma remains free from contaminating genomic DNA and cellular RNA, maximising the sensitivity of downstream NGS and PCR assays.
- Safety & Compatibility: Formaldehyde-free fixation prevents DNA/RNA cross-linking. Unlike traditional fixatives, Norgen’s chemistry ensures nucleic acids remain easily extractable and fully compatible with library preparation and sequencing.
- High Volume Recovery: The vacuum-evacuated tubes draw 8.4 mL of blood, ensuring sufficient plasma yield for deep sequencing applications.
Supporting Data
Figure 1. Effect of ambient temperature storage on cf-DNA (pDNA) and genomic DNA (gDNA)
Methodology: Exemplified by the short Alu (115bp) fragment, and genomic DNA (gDNA), exemplified by the large Alu (247 bp) fragment. Blood samples were drawn into either: 1) EDTA tubes, 2) Competitor tubes or 3) Norgen’s cf-DNA/cf-RNA Preservative Tubes and stored at room temperature. Aliquots of blood were removed at the indicated times and the plasma was separated. DNA was isolated, and pDNA and gDNA concentrations were determined by real-time PCR using a short ALU gene target (115 bp) representing the pDNA and a long ALU gene (247 bp) representing the gDNA. Levels of these two fragments should stay the same for the duration indicating stabilisation and no haemolysis. As expected, there was no stabilisation of cf-DNA and extensive haemolysis in the EDTA tube. Competitor showed significantly lower Ct values for both genes after 14 days, whereas cf-DNA was stable for 30 days at room temperature for Norgen’s cf-DNA/cf-RNA Preservative Tubes.
Figure 2. No plasma volume loss after shipping/transportation
Methodology: Blood was drawn from 6 different donors in duplicate. One set was kept in the lab at room temperature and the other was packed in an insulated box and shipped from Thorold, ON via overnight air freight to Winnipeg, MB and then back to Thorold ON (elapsed time 72 h). Upon return, preserved samples were stored at room temperature for 7 days before plasma was separated. The plasma volume recovered from Norgen’s cf-DNA/cf-RNA Preservative Tubes did not change before shipping or after shipping (6-7 mL recovered plasma). For both Competitor tubes and EDTA tubes the plasma volume recovered before shipping was ~ 4 mL and after shipping was ~ 2.5 mL.
Figure 3. Haemolysis of collected blood measured over time
Methodology: Blood samples were drawn into: 1) EDTA tubes, 2) Competitor tubes and 3) Norgen’s cf-DNA/cf-RNA Preservative Tubes and stored for up to 30 days. Haemolysis was determined by measuring the absorption of free haemoglobin in plasma from 3 subjects at 414 nm over several time points. Mean absorption is shown. The amount of free haemoglobin increased rapidly with each additional storage day in the EDTA tubes and Competitor tubes, and remained relatively constant in Norgen’s cf-DNA/cf-RNA Preservative Tubes.
Specifications
- Pack Size: 50 Tubes
- Tube Volume: 8.4 mL blood draw
- Preservative: Proprietary, Formaldehyde-free
- Sample Stability: 30 days at Room Temperature (15°C–25°C)
- Shipping Conditions: Ambient
- Usage Statement: Research Use Only (RUO)