Kits for GeneChip Expression of Whole Blood

New kits and associated protocol optimize a system for gene expression profiling of cellular RNA extracted from whole blood in order to improve assay sensitivity of molecular diagnostic testing.

The GeneChip globin-reducing kits and protocol were developed by Affymetrix, Inc. (Santa Clara, CA, USA) in conjunction with PreAnalytiX GmbH (Hombrechtikon, Switzerland). They standardize all the steps of whole blood RNA processing, from sample stabilization to analysis on GeneChip microarrays. This meets a major need in expression studies of whole blood, since prior RNA preparation methods have often yielded expression results with variable levels of sensitivity.

Use of the globin-reducing protocol and associated reagent kits enables researchers to detect subtle changes in gene expression by reducing the overwhelming amounts of globin messenger RNA (mRNA) present in while blood. High globin mRNA levels contributed from red blood cells have typically masked the less abundant but more important changes of gene expression associated with white blood cells, such as lymphocytes and monocytes. Counteracting the effects of globin mRNA during target preparation significantly increases assay sensitivity on GeneChip arrays.

"An accurate picture of in vivo gene expression profiles is essential for understanding gene regulation as it relates to different disease states and a patient's response to drug therapy,” observed Noel Doheny, vice president of PreAnalytiX and Qiagen.

PreAnalytiX is a joint venture between Qiagen (Venlo, The Netherlands) and Becton, Dickinson and Company (Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) to develop, manufacture, and market integrated systems for the collection, stabilization, and purification of nucleic acids for molecular diagnostic testing.





Related Links:
Affymetrix
PreAnalytiX