Singapore: BioStorage Technologies, a global provider of comprehensive sample management solutions for the bioscience industry, has initiated 24-month study to analyze human whole blood samples to measure the impact on the long-term integrity of DNA and RNA when various preparation methods, storage temperatures and storage times are applied.

Conducted at BioStorage Technologies' global biorepository in Indianapolis, the study will compare fresh samples, frozen pre-extracted samples and extracted nucleic acids, which require freeze and thaw cycles for processing.

"Various storage temperatures strategies will be evaluated and reported over the length of the study. The Integrity study has a unique comprehensive study design that will help provide the industry with recommended best practices and techniques to support the optimal preservation of DNA and RNA samples for prospective and retrospective research studies," said Mr Lori Ball, COO, BioStorage Technologies. "Our goal is to determine the effects of various preparation methods on whole blood samples for nucleic acid extraction and the optimal length of time and best temperature to store samples for future research."

Existing research suggests that inexact sample preparation and storage methods may affect the results or analysis of biological studies and can lead to sample loss, reprocessing or complicated data interpretation. However, to date, most studies have been designed to analyze the impact of a single temperature and have not been focused on the long-term effects of various temperatures, methods of freeze-thaw and storage time on DNA and RNA integrity within a single study.

"As an advocate for advancing the global biobanking industry, BioStorage 
Technologies has become an informational resource for best practices at all
stages of the sample management life-cycle, and with the Integrity study we hope to provide data-driven research in a comprehensive single-study format  that has never before been done," said Mr Greg Swanberg, CEO, BioStorage Technologies.