Plasma free DNA : evaluation of temperature-associated storage effects observed for Roche Cell-Free DNA collection tubes / Dietmar Enko, Gabriele Halwachs-Baumann, Gernot Kriegshäuser.
Sažetak

Introduction: Standardized pre-analytical blood sample procedures for the analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) are still not available.Therefore, the present study aimed at evaluating the impact of storage conditions related to different times (24 and 48 h) and temperatures (roomtemperature (RT) and 4 - 8 °C) on the plasma ccfDNA concentration of blood samples drawn into Cell-Free DNA collection tubes (Roche DiagnosticsGmbH, Mannheim, Germany).Materials and methods: Venous blood from 30 healthy individuals was collected into five 8.5 mL Cell-Free DNA Collection Tubes (Roche DiagnosticsGmbH) each. Plasma samples were processed at time point of blood collection (tube 1), and after storage under the following conditions: 24 hat RT (tube 2) or 4-8 °C (tube 3), and 48 h at RT (tube 4) or 4 - 8 °C (tube 5). Circulating cell-free DNA concentrations were determined by EvaGreenchemistry-based droplet digital PCR (ddPCR).Results: No statistically significant differences between median (interquartile range) plasma ccfDNA concentrations (ng/mL) at time point of bloodcollection (3.17 (2.13 – 3.76)) and after storage for 24 h (RT: 3.02 (2.41 – 3.68); 4-8 °C: 3.21 (2.19 – 3.46)) and 48 h (RT: 3.13 (2.10 – 3.76); 4-8 °C: 3.09(2.19 – 3.50)) were observed (P values from 0.102 – 0.975).Conclusions: No unwanted release of genomic DNA from white blood cells could be detected in plasma samples after tube storage for 24 and 48 hregardless of storage temperature.