Qiagen has launched the Qiasafe DNA blood kit to facilitate the transport and storage of whole blood at room temperature.
The traditional room-temperature collection and storage of blood is accomplished via paper methods.
There are currently many card-based methods available to collect and store samples for multiple years.
A disadvantage with some card-based methods can be the relatively low yield of DNA available from bloodspots, according to the company.
Qiagen's Qiasafe DNA blood kits are available on a matrix.
The kits stabilise blood at ambient room temperature.
The Qiasafe matrix is a mixture of dissolvable compounds that stabilises DNA at room temperature.
The technology used is based on anhydrobiosis, a biological mechanism employed by some multi-celluar organisms to enable their survival in a dry state for periods of more than 100 years.
The matrix is formulated for the ambient temperature shipping and long-term storage of DNA.
In Qiasafe DNA blood products, this technology is used to preserve DNA for future extractions from blood.
Marie McCluskey, global product manager of the company, said: 'This is a unique product for researchers in molecular diagnostics, biomedical research and pharma that rely on biobanking.
'Up to 200ul of blood can be stored in tubes or 48-well plates.
'The true advantage comes when the sample is rehydrated for analysis.
'Researchers will notice a significantly higher yield than with traditional room-temperature storage methods.' The Qiasafe matrix forms a protective seal around the DNA as it dries, essentially shrink-wrapping the sample in a protective coating.
Drying occurs at room temperature without requiring any special equipment.
McCluskey added: 'Sample recovery is just a simple rehydration step.
'The rehydrated samples are ready for immediate use without the need for further purification.' The Qiasafe blood DNA kit is the latest addition to the company's portfolio of solutions for human blood and tissue stabilisation, storage, fixation and purification.
In May 2009, Qiagen launched the Qiaamp circulating nucleic acid kit.
This product is suitable for the extraction of free circulating fragments of tumour- and fetal-derived nucleic acids as well as viral nucleic acids in human blood.
Scientists consider these DNA and RNA fragments to have great potential for the highly sensitive and non-invasive diagnosis of a range of diseases and infections.
The Qiaamp circulating nucleic acid kit is expected to facilitate the corresponding biomarker research and the introduction of molecular tests in prenatal diagnostics.
In January 2009, Preanalytix, (a Qiagen/BD company) launched the Paxgene tissue system.
This system fixes human tissue and prevents the degradation of the biomolecules needed for molecular analysis.
Paxgene combines tissue fixation with nucleic acid stabilisation, enabling researchers to get the most information from samples.
For example, a biopsy sample can be assessed by a pathologist for morphology and then the same sample can be used for molecular analysis as well.
The stabilised nucleic acids are claimed to make it possible for researchers to get optimal morphology and molecular results from one sample.
The system has two components: a tissue container and tissue kits.
The dual-chambered container is pre-filled with two reagents: Paxgene Tissue Fix for fast penetration and fixation and Paxgene Tissue Stabilizer for storage and transport.
The fixation process uses a standard histocasette with a fixative that is an alternative to formalin and is stopped by transferring the sample into the stabiliser.
Fixation time is standardised at two to four hours.
The sample is stable in the Paxgene Tissue Stabilizer for transport and storage prior to processing.
Tissue can then be paraffin embedded and processed in pathology workflows.
After tissue has been stabilised in Paxgene tissue containers (and optionally paraffin embedded), RNA, miRNA and DNA can be purified using the Paxgene tissue kits.