For RNA isolation from human blood samples, RNA quality is of highest interest. Preserving RNA quality in blood samples for transcriptome analysis, the PAXgene® Blood RNA Tube is often used. Blood samples can be stored at room temperature for several days without losing RNA quality. This application note is describing the use of the MACHEREY-NAGEL kit “NucleoSpin® 8 RNA” for RNA isolation from PAXgene® Blood RNA Tubes. A detailed protocol of the procedure can be

requested in article below

http://www.mn-net.com/Portals/8/attachments/Redakteure_Bio/ApplicationNotes/AN_NS8RNA_PAXgene.pdf

This is a really a good question! We are still facing the same dilemma regarding how to isolate RNA from PaxGene Tubes. But, actually not due to the financial costs of using the very expensive column technique from Qiagen, but rather because of efficiency, quality and contaminations (DNA and solvents) issues, that we were facing with the kit. We actually also tested the Macherey-Nagel column kit and found that it is even worse than Qiagen in regard to amount of RNA. However, also Qiagen, though we tried to communicate with them on the fact that the kit has quite a lot of problems, does not have any solution. Their column may result in relative high amount of RNA, however, it also results in low quality of RNA: like having a lot of DNA residues as the DNase I digestion on column is insufficient, and due to their elution buffer (and probably residues on the column) you still face a lot of impurities from solvents (that in many downstream measurements interfere with your assay).

Here are very few selection of papers discussing a bit this problems, however, we did not manage to find any good solution, and would be really happy if anyone out there, may have a solution to this.

https://bmcbiotechnol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1472-6750-12-33

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16170815

http://www.gene-quantification.de/hammerle-rna-qc-bl-2009.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4254602/

And here are also companies comparison… however, this should also be tested scientifically.

https://static.fishersci.eu/content/dam/fishersci/en_EU/lifescience/doctechnical/genomics/KingFisher%20Pure%20Kits%20Blood%20RNA%20Technical%20Note%20v9_24Jun13.pdf

http://transplant-genomics.genetics.ucla.edu/files/Tempus_PAX_CPTcomparison.pdf

Which is best protocol for isolation of blood sample from human paxgene tube or Qiagen?

I was wondering how it was your RNA extraction. I am also going to star working with Pax-gene tubes and I think that I am going to try this kit https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/4451894

If you have any suggestion or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!