RNA / miRNA
The PAXgene Blood RNA System consolidates and integrates the key steps of whole blood collection, intracellular RNA profile stabilization, and RNA purification. By minimizing the unpredictability associated with RNA processing, the system provides high quality and quantity of intracellular RNA for enhanced accuracy of RNA analysis. The PAXgene Blood RNA System consists of the PAXgene Blood RNA Tube and different purification kits to accommodate your throughput and automation needs. The high-quality RNA purified using this system is optimal for a range of downstream applications, including RT-PCR, quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and cDNA synthesis.
| Throughput | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | Medium | High | |
| Manual protocol | PAXgene Blood RNA Kit (IVD) | PAXgene 96 Blood RNA Kit (RUO) | |
| Automated protocol | PAXgene Blood RNA Kit (IVD) | QIAsymphony PAXgene Blood RNA Kit (RUO) | PAXgene Blood RNA MDx Kit (RUO) |
| Instrument | QIAcube (see available protocols) |
QIAsymphony | BioRobot Universal System |
Minimize RNA transcript level changes
Upon collecting a blood specimen, ex vivo gene induction and down-regulation, initiation of cell death programs, and enzymatic activity can all contribute to changes in cellular RNA transcript levels. The patented additive in PAXgene Blood RNA Tubes lyses all cells in the collected blood, which effectively inhibits cellular processes that can lead to altered RNA levels. Additionally, RNA molecules are protected against enzymatic degradation. The result is a stabilized snapshot of the gene expression profile at the time of blood collection.
Reduced variability due to differences in shipping and storage conditions
The proprietary reagent in the PAXgene Blood RNA Tubes stabilizes intracellular RNA in collected blood specimens for 3 days at room temperature (15–25°C) and 5 days at 2–8°C. Thus, temperature fluctuations up to 25°C during transportation and storage do not impact the intracellular RNA profile and the integrity of the RNA that is subsequently purified. Furthermore, procedural variation is eliminated because collection, stabilization, transport, and storage are all done with a single tube.
Standardized method from collection to purification
Differences in preanalytical methods generate variability in RNA quality and yield, which can render results from different labs and between different operators incomparable. The PAXgene system is standardized by the convenient BD Vacutainer technology, enhancing patient and health care worker safety, providing sample protection, and facilitating consistent blood volumes. Furthermore, the straight-forward purification workflow enables uniformity of handling to reduce user-to-user variability.
Systematic depletion of sample contaminants
Chemistry of the PAXgene Blood RNA Kit systematically digests proteins, filters out cellular debris, and depletes genomic DNA through a DNase treatment step prior to eluting molecules bound to a silica membrane. The resulting eluate contains pure RNA, with no carryover of other contaminants that can confound downstream analyses.
The PAXgene Blood miRNA System consists of the PAXgene Blood RNA Tube and PAXgene Blood miRNA Kit. The system is optimized to streamline the purification of total intracellular RNA, including small RNA species. By minimizing the unpredictability associated with RNA processing, the system provides enhanced accuracy of total intracellular RNA (miRNA, mRNA, and other RNA species) analysis. Purification of RNA, including small RNAs, using the PAXgene Blood miRNA System can be performed manually or automated on the QIAcube (see protocols) and the resulting high-quality RNA is optimal for a range of downstream applications, including RT-PCR, expression-array and expression-chip analysis, and cDNA synthesis. To accommodate medium throughput needs, equivalent results are obtained by combining PAXgene Blood RNA Tubes with the QIAsymphony PAXgene Blood RNA Kit.
| Throughput | ||
|---|---|---|
| Low | Medium | |
| Manual protocol | PAXgene Blood miRNA Kit | |
| Automated protocol | PAXgene Blood miRNA Kit | QIAsymphony PAXgene Blood RNA Kit (RUO) |
| Instrument | QIAcube (see available protocols) |
QIAsymphony |
Enriched low molecular weight intracellular RNA
With high efficiency in RNA stabilization and purification, the PAXgene Blood miRNA System is designed to enrich RNA molecules of small molecular weight, such as miRNA, in conjunction with larger intracellular RNA. By maximizing their yield, the PAXgene Blood miRNA System facilitates profiling miRNA, mRNA, and other RNA species.
Stabilized snapshot of small RNAs at point of collection
The unique additive in the PAXgene Blood RNA tube triggers a series of stabilizing events at the time of blood collection that safeguard RNA molecules from changes caused by ex vivo gene induction and down-regulation, initiation of cellular processes like programmed cell death, and enzymatic activity. Subsequent purification procedures target the enrichment of smaller RNA species, such as miRNA, to generate eluates optimized for their profiling.
Standardized method from collection to purification
The additive in PAXgene Blood RNA Tubes stabilizes intracellular RNA in collected specimens, enabling shipping, processing, and storage at room temperature (15–25°C), refrigerated (2–8°C), or frozen (–20°C or –70°C). Frozen specimens are suitable for long-term storage without impacting the intracellular RNA profile and the integrity of the subsequently purified RNAs. The PAXgene Blood miRNA System provides users with a completely integrated approach to RNA purification — from blood collection to pure RNA.
Systematic depletion of sample contaminants
The PAXgene Blood miRNA Kit uses a unique version of QIAGEN’s proven separation and purification technology. It systematically digests proteins, filters out cellular debris, and depletes genomic DNA through a DNase treatment prior to eluting RNA molecules bound to a silica membrane. Optimized chemistry enhances binding of RNA to the silica membrane, including miRNAs and other small RNA species as well as larger RNAs, from samples that have been stabilized in the PreAnalytiX reagent, thereby leading to a high-content eluate with no carryover of other contaminants.