Next-Gen Whole Blood DNA Collection and Extraction Kit to Introduce Cutting-Edge Capabilities

A next generation whole blood DNA collection and extraction kit under development aims to introduce cutting-edge capabilities that could have a significant impact on precision medical research.

Thorne HealthTech, Inc. (New York, NY, USA) is collaborating with GenTegra (Pleasanton, CA, USA) to utilize GenTegra's patented Active Chemical Protection technology and Thorne's OneDraw collection device to develop a whole blood DNA collection cartridge and a complete stabilization and extraction kit. The collaboration paves the way for Thorne and GenTegra to introduce a product that will be inclusive of Thorne's OneDraw DNA cartridges and GenTegra's GenSolve technology for highly efficient DNA extraction. The cartridges will feature cold-chain-free preservation of DNA, combined with DNA extraction technology as well as the lab testing kits that will benefit both users and labs processing the samples.

Image: OneDraw Blood Collection Device significantly reduces obstacles for drawing blood (Photo courtesy of Drawbridge Health)

In a recent study, GenTegra demonstrated that its Active Chemical Protection technology could be applied to the cold-chain-free blood storage matrix of OneDraw's blood collection device to further preserve DNA at room temperature. Additionally, GenTegra's proprietary reagent kit, GenSolve for laboratories, allowed for the extraction of greater amounts of high-quality DNA from whole blood collection matrices. OneDraw was recently certified in Japan as a medical device, having been cleared by the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). The device is already approved by the FDA as a Class II medical device, and it has a European Conformity mark for supervised use by health-care professionals to collect blood samples to measure HbA1c for monitoring the long-term control of blood sugar (glucose) in diabetic individuals.

"By combining our industry leading collection device and GenTegra's protective technology, we are introducing cutting-edge capabilities that can have a huge impact on precision medical research," said Jerome Scelza, Co-CEO of Drawbridge Health, which is majority owned by Thorne.

"GenTegra's Active Chemical Protection technology is utilized across a broad range of life science applications to stabilize and protect DNA and RNA from a variety of sample types," said Bob Barrett, President of GenTegra. "We're encouraged by the progress and successes we've been testing and are looking forward to working with Thorne and its OneDraw device and cartridge to further enhance DNA preservation and extraction for remote patient sample collection."

"Sample collection is a critical component of delivering accurate test results to the end user," said Paul Jacobson, CEO of Thorne HealthTech. "From collection to analysis, GenTegra's powerful chemistry, combined with a cold-chain-free storage platform, provides a huge opportunity for our product to be deployed into numerous healthcare fields to improve user experience and reach more people with the same degree of sample integrity and accuracy in market today."

Related Links:
Thorne HealthTech, Inc.
GenTegra