OBJECTIVE: Cell-free fetal DNA can be used for prenatal testing with no procedure-related risk to the fetus. However, yield of fetal DNA is low compared with maternal cell-free DNA fragments, resulting in technical challenges for some downstream applications. To maximize the fetal fraction, careful blood processing procedures are essential. We demonstrate that fetal fraction can be preserved using a single centrifugation step followed by postage of plasma to the laboratory for further processing. METHODS: Digital PCR was used to quantify copies of total, maternal, and fetal DNA present in single-spun plasma at time points over a two-week period, compared with immediately processed double-spun plasma, with storage at room temperature, 4°C, and -80°C representing different postage scenarios. RESULTS: There was no significant change in total, maternal, or fetal DNA copy numbers when single-spun plasma samples were stored for up to 1 week at room temperature and 2 weeks at -80°C compared with plasma processed within 4 h. Following storage at 4°C no change in composition of cell-free DNA was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Single-spun plasma can be transported at room temperature if the journey is expected to take one week or less; shipping on dry ice is preferable for longer journeys.
OBJECTIVE: Cell-free fetal DNA can be used for prenatal testing with no procedure-related risk to the fetus. However, yield of fetal DNA is low compared with maternal cell-free DNA fragments, resulting in technical challenges for some downstream applications. To maximize the fetal fraction, careful blood processing procedures are essential. We demonstrate that fetal fraction can be preserved using a single centrifugation step followed by postage of plasma to the laboratory for further processing. METHODS: Digital PCR was used to quantify copies of total, maternal, and fetal DNA present in single-spun plasma at time points over a two-week period, compared with immediately processed double-spun plasma, with storage at room temperature, 4°C, and -80°C representing different postage scenarios. RESULTS: There was no significant change in total, maternal, or fetal DNA copy numbers when single-spun plasma samples were stored for up to 1 week at room temperature and 2 weeks at -80°C compared with plasma processed within 4 h. Following storage at 4°C no change in composition of cell-free DNA was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Single-spun plasma can be transported at room temperature if the journey is expected to take one week or less; shipping on dry ice is preferable for longer journeys.
Authors: Jun Zou; Brian Duffy; Michael Slade; Andrew Lee Young; Nancy Steward; Ramsey Hachem; T Mohanakumar Journal: Hum Immunol Date: 2017-03-04 Impact factor: 2.850
Authors: Nicholas C Eastley; Barbara Ottolini; Rita Neumann; Jin-Li Luo; Robert K Hastings; Imran Khan; David A Moore; Claire P Esler; Jacqueline A Shaw; Nicola J Royle; Robert U Ashford Journal: Oncotarget Date: 2018-01-19
Authors: Michael D White; Robert H Klein; Brian Shaw; Albert Kim; Megha Subramanian; Joana L Mora; Anita Giobbie-Hurder; Deepika Nagabhushan; Aarushi Jain; Mohini Singh; Benjamin M Kuter; Naema Nayyar; Mia S Bertalan; Jackson H Stocking; Samuel C Markson; Matthew Lastrapes; Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge; Daniel P Cahill; Gregory Gydush; Justin Rhoades; Denisse Rotem; Viktor A Adalsteinsson; Maura Mahar; Alexander Kaplan; Kevin Oh; Ryan J Sullivan; Elizabeth Gerstner; Scott L Carter; Priscilla K Brastianos Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2021-08-02