Specialized cell-free DNA blood collection tubes
Cell3™ Preserver
Pre-analytical blood collection tubes for liquid biopsy, validated for collection of whole blood and stabilization of cell-free DNA and circulating tumor DNA for up to 15 days.
Long cell stability
Stabilizes whole blood for up to 15 days post blood draw, making Cell3 Preserver tubes ideal for batching samples for countrywide or international shipping.
Fully validated for cell-free DNA
Validated for use in non-invasive applications, such as NIPT and liquid biopsy; and for multiple techniques like qPCR and NGS.
No glass breakages
Plastic evacuated tubes reduce the chance of tube breakage during transport or centrifugation and are compatible with standard draw equipment.
Increased lab efficiency
Barcoded labels allow seamless integration with your existing automation and laboratory management systems.
The importance of blood collection methods in cell-free DNA applications
The introduction of non-invasive methods like liquid biopsy that use cell-free DNA (cfDNA) for molecular diagnostics has been of growing interest in oncology and prenatal studies. DNA from whole blood can provide valuable genomic information for healthcare professionals without the need for tissue biopsies or amniocentesis.
Whilst taking a blood sample is a simple procedure, if blood plasma is not preserved or isolated within 24 hours of blood draw, the degradation of nucleated white blood cells will cause the release of intracellular genomic DNA (gDNA) into the plasma. This can contaminate the cfDNA fraction affecting the reliability and validity of data. This time constraint means that any delays in transport of samples from collection site to analysis location can negatively impact on results.
The Cell3 Preserver blood collection tubes are an easy-to-use direct-draw blood collection method that maintains white blood cell integrity for up to 15 days. They provide an alternative to EDTA tubes that help ensure contamination-free cfDNA for applications like liquid biopsy and NIPT.
Maximize cfDNA yield
Cell3 Preserver tubes are sterile, evacuated, polyethylene terephthalate tubes, designed for direct-draw blood collection. Using standard venipuncture techniques, blood is collected into the tubes which contain an additive to simultaneously stabilize blood cells and impede coagulation. The stabilizer acts by preserving the intact nucleated white blood cells, preventing the release of intracellular DNA into the plasma, ensuring cfDNA levels are stable until processing and analysis can be performed.
Suitable for batching and transporting samples
Cell3 Preserver has superior blood cell stability allowing blood samples to be stored for up to 15 days after blood draw at ambient temperatures before processing. This minimizes the adverse effects of time, storage, and transport conditions on sample integrity and cfDNA extraction yield and opens up the possibility of decentralized sample collection.
A cost-effective preserver designed for NIPT and liquid biopsy
Cell3 Preserver has been validated for NIPT and liquid biopsy applications alongside the market leading cell stabilization tube and offers an alternative to standard EDTA blood collection tubes that ensures robustness of genetic testing with cfDNA.
Figure 1: DNA concentration of PCR-free libraries prepared from cfDNA for whole genome sequencing on NextSeq500 (Illumina). Blood samples from 5 patients were collected into both Cell3 Preserver and Streck tubes for testing. cfDNA was extracted and analyzed with the Serenity test for NIPT of fetal aneuploidies.
Figure 2: Fetal fraction observed. Blood samples from 5 patients were collected into both Cell3 Preserver and Streck tubes for testing. cfDNA was extracted and analyzed with the Serenity test for NIPT of fetal aneuploidies.
Figure 3: Liquid biopsy test: Two identified pathogenic variants were found present in the FFPE and cfDNA samples, but not in the germline DNA. A blood sample from a patient with metastatic breast cancer was collected in Cell3 Preserver and Streck tubes post chemotherapy. cfDNA was extracted and tested alongside gDNA obtained from leukocytes and a FFPE biopsy sample of the primary tumor. Targeted resequencing across a panel of genes commonly associated with cancer was performed at high depth Illumina). Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to annotate variants and identify causative actionable mutations.
Designed to support streamlined workflows
The Cell3 Preserver blood collection tube has been designed for sample collection and shipment from around the world helping centralized lab facilities streamline their workflows. Plastic tubes reduce the chance of tube breakage during transportation and centrifugation. A sample barcode is included to allow LIMS compatibility, sample tracking and to assist high throughput clinical and translational labs.
See our customer publications
| Product | Catalog No. |
|---|---|
| Cell3™ Preserver blood collection tubes (50 tubes) | PRE_C3P_WBS_50 |
How long can I store a blood sample in the Cell3™ Preserver tubes?
The Cell3™ Preserver tubes are designed to stabilize whole blood for up to 15 days at a range of storage temperatures (4°C–37°C).
What is the shelf life of Cell3™ Preserver tubes once they have been delivered?
They have a three month shelf life once the pouch has been opened. Store at room temperature, 18-25°C.
Is it normal to see some condensation within the Cell3™ Preserver tube packaging?
Yes, it is normal to see some condensation. Cell3™ Preserver tubes are supplied in a sealed foil pouch that contains a humidified environment in order to minimize the effect of Cell3™ Preserver to minimize evaporation.
Is it normal for the plasma to have a pink colouration when using the Cell3™ Preserver tubes?
Yes, you may see some pink coloration to the plasma. The Cell3™ Preserver tubes contain stabilization additives which protect and prevent white blood cells from breaking apart. Keeping the white blood cells intact prevents genomic DNA contamination in the plasma sample. However, red blood cells have thinner walls and may break down in a process called hemolysis. Red blood cells do not contain DNA and therefore will not contribute to any genomic DNA contamination in the plasma sample.