Zero delay plasma vs. Streck cfDNA tubes: Does immediately centrifuging blood at the point of draw improve cell-free DNA signal-to-noise?

Abstract

e14529 Background: Sample quality is a critical consideration for high fidelity cell-free DNA (cfDNA) testing. Oncological cfDNA tests used for liquid biopsy typically employ specialty blood collection tubes containing chemical preservatives to minimize degradation of samples prior to lab testing. Here we describe a newly developed device, Zero Delay Plasma– a portable centrifuge and disc system designed to immediately isolate cell-free plasma at the point of blood draw – and evaluate its performance against the Streck cfDNA collection tube. Methods: Whole blood was collected, processed, and stored at room temperature for up to 7 days with both the Zero Delay Plasma system and the Streck cfDNA blood collection tube. Sample hemolysis was measured via cell-free hemoglobin. Genomic contamination and cfDNA signal-to-noise were evaluated by qPCR and electrophoresis, comparing signal from target 150-200bp cfDNA to contaminating longer length genomic sequences in the sample. 2 sets of hemolysis experiments, 2 sets of electrophoresis experiments and 4 sets of qPCR experiments were conducted. Results: Plasma processed with the Zero Delay Plasma system yielded ~4X lower hemolysis levels, ~10X lower genomic contamination, and ~20X higher cfDNA signal-to-noise compared to the Streck cfDNA collection tube after 7 days of storage at room temperature. Conclusions: The Zero Delay Plasma system minimizes sample degradation and analytical background signal for cfDNA testing by immediately removing cells and other contaminants at the point of blood collection. Clinical evaluations are in process.