We intend collecting blood specimens in the filed, where we could not snap-freeze. The challenge we face is how to preserve adequately both RBCs and RNA in the samples until they arrive lab.
We could use RNAlater to stabilze to RNA (even some RNA extraction methods are not suitable for using with samples stored in RNAlater). How ever, does RNAlater or TRizol suitable to help stabilize/preserve RBCs from hemolysis?
Does anyone have experience to share on how to preserve both RBCs and RNA in blood specimens collected in the field?
Thanks
try to use paxgene blood rna kit collection tube it can preserve both rbc and rna for up to 5days in 4 degrees temp
Dears Horace and Matthew,
Thank you for suggesting the PaxGene RNA tubes, But, it will be difficult to access sufficient number of these tubes in low-income settings, due to limited resources.
It will be appreciated if someone can advise on another alternative.
Thanks
You can try to collect you sample on DBS cards, they have the advantage of preserving the integrity of the blood, and can be kept at room temperature beyond three weeks. the inconvenient is the amount of blood, but for that issu, you can fill several spots for the same sample. I know that taking DBS keeps the RNA, but for RBC,s I have no experience.
Thank you Marie-Yolande for the contribution.
Over the years, we have been using FTA cards for DBS sampling, but they are not suitable for RBCs biopreservation.
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