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EDTA is a better anticoagulant than heparin or citrate for delayed blood processing for plasma DNA analysis.

Author(s): Lam NY, Rainer TH, Chiu RW, Lo YM

Publication: Clin Chem, 2004, Vol. 50, Page 256-7

PubMed ID: 14709670 PubMed Review Paper? No

Purpose of Paper

The purpose of this paper was to determine the effects of type of anticoagulant and duration of blood storage at room temperature prior to centrifugation on plasma DNA quantification.

Conclusion of Paper

Storing blood in heparin, citrate, or EDTA tubes at room temperature for up to 6 hours prior to centrifugation had no effects on median plasma DNA concentrations. However, storage of blood in these collection tubes at room temperature for 24 hours led to significant increases in plasma DNA concentrations for all anticoagulant types compared to specimens centrifuged immediately. When blood was stored for 24 h prior to centrifugation, significant differences between anticoagulant types were also observed, with heparin and citrate plasma showing larger increases in DNA concentration than EDTA plasma.

Studies

  1. Study Purpose

    The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of type of anticoagulant and duration of room temperature (24 degrees C) storage of blood prior to centrifugation on plasma DNA quantification by real-time qPCR. After centrifugation, plasma was stored at -80 degrees C until analysis. DNA was extracted using the QIAamp Blood Kit.

    Summary of Findings:

    Storing blood in heparin, citrate, or EDTA tubes at room temperature for up to 6 hours prior to centrifugation had no effects on median plasma DNA concentrations, as assessed by real time qPCR of the beta globin gene, compared to specimens that were centrifuged immediately. However, storage of blood in these collection tubes at room temperature for 24 hours led to significant increases in plasma DNA concentrations for all anticoagulant types compared to specimens centrifuged immediately. Median EDTA plasma DNA concentrations increased 1.6-fold, heparin plasma DNA concentrations increased 7.6-fold, and citrate plasma DNA concentrations increased 8-fold when blood was stored for 24 h prior to centrifugation rather than centrifuged immediately. The resulting median DNA concentrations were significantly different between specimens collected with EDTA and with heparin or citrate but were not significantly different between specimens collected with heparin and citrate.

    Biospecimens
    Preservative Types
    • Frozen
    Diagnoses:
    • Normal
    Platform:
    AnalyteTechnology Platform
    DNA Real-time qPCR
    Pre-analytical Factors:
    ClassificationPre-analytical FactorValue(s)
    Biospecimen Acquisition Anticoagulant Citrate
    EDTA
    Heparin
    Storage Time at room temperature 0 h
    2 h
    6 h
    24 h
    Real-time qPCR Specific Targeted nucleic acid Beta globin
    Biospecimen Aliquots and Components Centrifugation Centrifugation delays investigated
    View more

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