Plasma/Serum RNA Purification Maxi Kit: Unlock Rare Biomarkers from Large Volumes
The Geneflow Plasma/Serum RNA Purification Maxi Kit is engineered to address the critical challenge of liquid biopsy research: the detection of low-abundance RNA biomarkers in blood derivatives. Circulating RNA, including cell-free RNA (cfRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), is often present in minute quantities, requiring the processing of larger sample volumes to obtain detectable yields. This Maxi format kit allows researchers to process sample volumes of up to 5 mL, ensuring that sufficient RNA is captured for sensitive downstream applications such as RT-qPCR, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and microarray analysis.
Employing a proprietary resin-based technology, this kit overcomes the limitations of traditional carrier-RNA based methods or phenol-chloroform extractions. The technology is optimised to bind all sizes of circulating RNA—from small miRNAs to large mRNAs—while effectively removing proteins, lipids, and PCR inhibitors commonly found in plasma and serum. The robust column design handles large input volumes yet allows for elution in a concentrated volume, maximising the sensitivity of your assays without the need for hazardous chemicals.
Key Benefits:
- High Input Capacity: Detect rare targets. Process up to 5 mL of plasma or serum per prep, significantly increasing the total yield of scarce circulating RNA compared to standard mini kits.
- Total RNA Capture: Comprehensive profiling. Isolates the full diversity of circulating RNA, including protein-bound RNA, exosomal RNA, and free-circulating miRNA, without bias.
- Inhibitor Removal: Reliable RT-PCR. Effectively eliminates potent blood-borne inhibitors such as heme and immunoglobulin, ensuring linear kinetics in downstream amplification.
- Phenol-Free Safety: Protect samples and staff. The column-based protocol eliminates the need for toxic phenol-chloroform extractions and avoids the variability associated with phase separation.
- High Concentration: Ready for analysis. Despite the large input volume, RNA can be eluted in volumes as small as 50 µl, yielding a highly concentrated sample ready for immediate use.
Technical Insights
Overcoming the “Dilution Effect”
In liquid biopsy, the target analytes (such as tumour-derived RNA) are often diluted by a vast background of wild-type material and fluid. Standard extraction kits that process 200 µl often fail to capture enough copies of the target for reliable detection. By increasing the input to 5 mL, this Maxi kit increases the theoretical sensitivity by 25-fold. The binding matrix is specifically tuned to handle the high protein load of serum/plasma without clogging, ensuring consistent flow rates and recovery.
Linearity and Yield
The kit demonstrates excellent linearity between sample input volume and RNA yield. Whether processing 1 mL or 5 mL, the recovery efficiency remains constant. This quantitative reliability is crucial for longitudinal studies or when comparing biomarker levels across patient cohorts with varying available sample volumes.
Specifications
- Format: Maxi Spin Column
- Sample Input: 2 mL – 5 mL Plasma or Serum
- Elution Volume: 50 µl – 100 µl
- Binding Capacity: Optimised for liquid biopsy loads
- Processing Time: ~45 minutes
- Downstream Compatibility: RT-qPCR, NGS (RNA-Seq), Northern Blotting, Bioanalyser
- Target RNA: All sizes (miRNA, mRNA, lncRNA, cfRNA)