Hello,

I am planning an experiment. I may be able access blood plasma samples. These samples were collected from patients in EDTA tubes, centrifuged and the plasma supernatant extracted and stored at -80C.

I imagine this is not very good for RNA. Nonetheless, my interest would be in how differences between the mRNA detectable between patients correlates with their prognosis, which I have in a database. I would plan to use RTqPCR to determine differences in the cell free mRNA.

These are quite precious clinical samples but I may be able to trial a protocol on a small number to see if I could detect any mRNA.

The problem I have when searching is that the literature is either very pessimistic or references only protocols for extracting mRNA from blood cells.

What are my chances of being able to detect housekeepers and a small set of genes of interest in cell free stored plasma and what would be the best way to do it ?

Thank you for your help