Transport Of Blood Samples Research Articles

EXPERIMENTAL COMPARISON OF ECO-FRIENDLY REFRIGERANT COUPLES R407C/R32/R600a (90/10 BY WT.%) AND R407C/R32 TO REVEAL THE GWP AND THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES

In this experimental study, based on cooling couples a new mixture (90%R32 + 10%R600a) has been proven to be better than R32 for the global warming potential (GWP) in a low-pressure cycle (LPC), within a high-pressure cycle (HPC) R407C by utilizing a small laboratory cooling system. This system consists of two cooling cycles connected by a heat exchanger and has also been termed as a mini cascade refrigeration system (MCRS). The main aim of this study is to study a suitable gas or mixture for MCRS at the lowest GWP value and a low-temperature cooling room to reach less than -30°C. In the same way, the following conditions have been determined in this research: the inlet and outlet temperatures of the evaporator, condenser, heat exchanger, compressors, with evaporator pressure as well as superheat. Consequently, MCRS can be used with thermostats at the lowest degree of -32°C or less, the mixture has results close to R32 and the coefficient of performance for MCRS COPMCRS is equal to 1.63 and 1.78 for the new mixture and R32, respectively, under the same operating conditions. Therefore, the ozone depletion potentials (ODP) for R32 and the new mixture are equal to zero, and the GWP for the new mixture is less by amount of 63 than that for R32. The MCRS can be used in a small place, for instance, transport blood samples, blood tests, and vaccines by small cars. Both R32 and R600a are flammable gases, so this study will be carried on in the future for safer replacements.

Second NHS trust trials drone deliveries for chemotherapy medicines

An NHS trust in Northumbria has become the second hospital to trial the use of drones to transport chemotherapy medicines between sites. The drones, operated by the company Apian, will carry chemotherapy medicines from Wansbeck General Hospital in Ashington to Alnwick Infirmary and Berwick Infirmary, and transport blood samples back to Wansbeck for testing. In […]

Effect of Radioimmunoassay on Accuracy of Thyroid Hormone Detection.

At present, the most important method for the detection of thyroid hormones in hospitals in China is radioimmunoassay. Besides radioimmunoassay, there are blood test and antibody test methods for thyroid hormone detection. However, after long-term clinical investigations, the accuracy of the results of thyroid hormone detection by radioimmunoassay has been affected by many factors. Possible influencing factors include inaccurate thyroid hormone test results due to improper way of blood collection by nurses and improper way of keeping and transporting blood samples by nurses. Therefore, this paper analyzes and discusses the influencing factors of the accuracy of thyroid hormone (T4) detection by radioimmunoassay technology. In this paper, we conducted research using statistical analysis of clinical data, improved separation methods for quality control in the laboratory, and blood specimen collection methods. Radioimmunoassay occurs with antibodies. Of the 10 batches of 964 cases in the improved separation methods for quality control in the laboratory, 154 mismatched items accounted for 16%, and the error of method and operation only accounted for 5.8% of unmatched specimens, most of which were the biochemical characteristics and clinical manifestations of thyroid hormones. The blood sample collection method research found that mild hemolysis had no significant effect on the measurement results, severe hemolysis had a tendency to affect the results, and blood collection tubes had no effect on the test results. Mild hemolysis refers to the increase in the rate of red blood cell destruction due to various internal and external factors in the body. The symptoms when mild hemolysis occurs are generally not obvious. Severe hemolysis refers to a disease caused by blood group incompatibility, mainly referring to immune hemolysis caused by blood group incompatibility between mother and baby, as well as severe jaundice or severe anemia. The statistical analysis of clinical data found that, among 160 patients, the reasons for the inaccuracy of T4 results using radioimmunoassay technology were as follows: 104 patients were inaccurate due to personal factors, and the results were due to hospital factors. A total of 56 patients had inaccurate results. During the measurement of thyroid hormone, it will be affected by many factors. For this reason, the influencing factors of the accuracy of radioimmunoassay should be clarified, and appropriate measures should be taken to deal with it, so as to give full play to the role of radioimmunoassay and improve the detection.

A simulation-based approach for improving the clinical blood sample supply chain

We consider a three-echelon blood sample supply chain comprising the following elements: (i) clinics, where blood samples are taken from patients, (ii) centrifugation centers, where collected blood samples are separated into their different components, and (iii) a centralized testing laboratory, where the samples are analyzed. We focus on the scheduling of vehicles that transport blood samples from clinics to centrifugation centers-a special case of the vehicle routing problem (VRP). Our study presents a novel simulation-based approach to the VRP, designed and implemented in MATLAB, and tailored to the unique constraints of the three-echelon blood sample collection chain. We apply this approach to data from a large Health Maintenance Organization to determine the optimal vehicle fleet size for blood sample transport, while ensuring that the quality of the healthcare service is not compromised. Results suggest that our simulation model can be generalized to serve as a useful and straightforward decision support tool for optimizing resource utilization and service quality in healthcare systems.

Cohort profile of the Biomarkers of Acute Serious Illness in Children (BASIC) study: a prospective multicentre cohort study in critically ill children

PurposeDespite significant progress, challenges remain in the management of critically ill children, including early identification of infection and organ failure and robust early risk stratification to predict poor outcome. The...

Electrokinetics with blood.

Microfluidics based lab-on-a-chip technology holds tremendous promises towards point-of-care diagnosis of diseases as well as for developing engineered devices aimed towards replicating the intrinsic functionalities of human bodies as mediated by blood vessel mimicking circulatory networks. While the analysis of transport of blood including its unique cellular constituents has remained to be the focus of many reported studies, a progressive interest on understanding the interplay between electric field and blood flow dynamics has paved a new way towards further developments from scientific engineering as well as clinical viewpoint. Here, we briefly outline the interconnection between electrokinetics and blood flow through micro-capillaries, in an effort to address several challenging propositions in a wide variety of applications encompassing biophysical transport to medical diagnostics. We first present the fundamentals of interaction of electric field with cellular components. In conjunction with the unique rheological features of blood, we show that this interaction may turn out to be compelling for the use of electric fields for transporting blood samples through microfluidic conduits. We discuss the perspectives of both direct current and alternating current electrokinetics in the context of blood flow. In addition, we provide a brief outline of the concerned theoretical developments. We also bring out the relevant biophysical perspectives and focus on applications such as blood plasma separation and separation of circulatory tumor cells. Finally, we attempt to provide a futuristic outlook and envisage the potential of combining electrokinetics with blood microcirculation towards developing futuristic biomimetic microdevices that can replicate a novel control mechanism over micro-circulatory transport in the entire connective network of human bodies. This may effectively pave the way towards the realization of a next-generation medical simulation device, significantly advanced from what is available under the ambit of the state of art technology in the field.

Alterations in the parameters of classic, global, and innovative assays of hemostasis caused by sample transportation via pneumatic tube system

BackgroundPneumatic tube system (PTS) is an integral part of large medical facilities providing rapid interconnection between units within the hospital and often used to transport blood samples. The aim of our study was to compare a wide variety of hemostasis assays to identify assays sensitive to this transport method and diagnostic relevance of the alterations. MethodsRoutine coagulation and platelet tests (APTT, PT, TT, fibrinogen, light transmission aggregometry (LTA) with ADP, collagen, ristomycin and epinephrine), whole blood flow cytometry platelet function test (levels of CD42b, CD61, CD62P, PAC1, annexin V binding and mepacrine release) and global coagulation tests (thromboelastography (TEG), thrombin generation (TGT), thrombodynamics (TD), thrombodynamics-4D (TD-4D)) were determined in PTS- and manually transported samples of 10 healthy volunteers. ResultsThere were no significant differences between the values of APTT, PT, TT or fibrinogen between the samples transported by PTS or manually. The results for LTA demonstrated increase in the collagen-induced aggregation (84 ± 7% versus 73 ± 5%), while the response to epinephrine was decreased (58 ± 20% versus 72 ± 7.4%). Flow cytometry-based platelet function test showed a pre-activation of platelets by PTS-transportation while all integral assays of coagulation tested in the present study (TEG, TGT, TD, TD-4D) demonstrated a hypercoagulation shift. ConclusionsTransportation by PTS caused significant shifts in parameters of functional and integral assays that exceeded parameter variation values and sometimes even were comparable to normal ranges. The results obtained in this study indicate that using of PTS for such assays may cause sufficient alterations of results and can lead to patient's mistreatment.

The impact of pneumatic tube transport on whole blood coagulation and platelet function assays

Pneumatic tube is an attractive way to transport blood samples from the emergency department to the central laboratory facility. We aimed to investigate the impact of pneumatic tube transportation on blood samples for analysis of whole blood coagulation and platelet function.We included 21 healthy adult individuals and measured global coagulation assays by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) using impedance aggregometry (ROTEM Platelet), on samples transported manually or by pneumatic tube transport. Statistical testing was performed with paired tests with post-hoc Bonferroni correction for multiple testing.Our data revealed no difference in the far majority of ROTEM parameters (P > 0.003), while significantly decreased values were observed for INTEM clotting time (CT) (P = 0.002) and maximum clot firmness (MCF) including the amplitude after 10 min (A10) (P < 0.0001).No statistically significant difference was observed on impedance aggregometry results when manual transport was compared to pneumatic tube transport (P > 0.003).This study indicates that only minor and unsystematic differences between manual transport and pneumatic tube transport may be observed in ROTEM analyses, and that there is no influence from pneumatic tube transport on impedance aggregometry analyses using AA and ADP.

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles for health purposes: a systematic review of experimental studies.

Unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) have had a rapid escalation in manageability and affordability, which can be exploited in healthcare. We conducted a systematic review examining the use of drones for health-related purposes. A search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Global Health, Scopus, CINAHL and SciELO. Experimental studies were selected if the population included human subjects, the intervention was the use of UAVs and there was a health-related outcome. Of 500 results, five met inclusion criteria during an initial search. An updated search yielded four additional studies. Nine studies, all in high-income countries, were included for systematic syntheses: four studies addressed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest emergencies, three assessed drones for identification of people after accidents, one used drones to transport blood samples and one used drones to improve surgical procedures in war zones. Research on the use of drones in healthcare is limited to simulation scenarios, and this review did not retrieve any studies from low- and middle-income countries.

The impact of pneumatic tube system on routine laboratory parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pneumatic tube system (PTS) is a widely used method of transporting blood samples in hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the PTS transport in certain routine laboratory parameters as it has been implicated with hemolysis. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were conducted. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched (up until November 2016) to identify prospective studies evaluating the impact of PTS transport in hematological, biochemical and coagulation measurements. The random-effects model was used in the meta-analysis utilizing the mean difference (MD). Heterogeneity was quantitatively assessed using the Cohran's Q and the I2 index. Subgroup analysis, meta-regression analysis, sensitivity analysis, cumulative meta-analysis and assessment of publication bias were performed for all outcomes. From a total of 282 studies identified by the searching procedure, 24 were finally included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis yielded statistically significant results for potassium (K) [MD=0.04 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.015-0.065; p=0.002], lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (MD=10.343 U/L; 95% CI=6.132-14.554; p<10-4) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (MD=1.023 IU/L; 95% CI=0.344-1.702; p=0.003). Subgroup analysis and random-effects meta-regression analysis according to the speed and distance of the samples traveled via the PTS revealed that there is relation between the rate and the distance of PTS with the measurements of K, LDH, white blood cells and red blood cells. This meta-analysis suggests that PTS may be associated with alterations in K, LDH and AST measurements. Although these findings may not have any significant clinical effect on laboratory results, it is wise that each hospital validates their PTS.

Evaluation of the pneumatic tube system for transportation of packed red cell units.

Background:Pneumatic tube system (PTS) is commonly used in hospital settings to transport blood samples to diagnostic laboratories. At our blood center, we receive blood requisitions via the PTS, but units are carried to the ward by human courier. Recently we considered using the PTS for transporting blood units. Since, there are reports of hemolysis in blood samples sent through the PTS, we evaluated this system for transporting red cell units.Aims:The aim was to assess the effect of PTS transport on the quality of packed red cell units.Materials and Methods:A total of 50 red blood cells units (RBC), (25 non-irradiated and 25 irradiated) were subjected to transportation through the PTS. The control arm in the study was age-matched RBC units not subjected to PTS transport. Each RBC unit was evaluated for hemoglobin (Hb), lactate dehydrogenase, potassium and plasma hemoglobin (Hb). The paired t-test was used to compare these parameters, and the P value was calculated.Results and Conclusion:The percentage of hemolysis after transportation through PTS was below the recommended guidelines. Delivery of the blood unit to the wrong station, bags lying unattended at the destination were few of the problems that had to be addressed. To conclude, though the PTS is a safe means of transporting blood products with reduction in the turn-around-time, it must be validated before use.

874TiP - Anzup 1302 P3Bep Companion Translational Study: Prospective Collection of Whole Blood, Serum, Plasma and Tumour Tissue in a Randomized Trial of Chemotherapy for Metastatic Germ Cell Tumours (Gct)

ABSTRACT Background: The Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP) is conducting a randomized trial of accelerated versus standard BEP chemotherapy for intermediate and poor risk metastatic GCTs. This translational substudy will prospectively collect blood and GCT tissue in a centralized biobank. Overall aim: To identify pharmacogenomic and molecular markers of treatment failure, toxicity and overall survival in metastatic GCTs. This could lead to the design of tailored treatments, for example incorporating a higher dose of or an alternative form of chemotherapy. Trial design: Specific objectives: 1. Consent ≤ 500 individuals in our trial for donation of blood and cancer tissue samples for future genomic analyses 2. Collect, process and freeze participant blood (50mL) as whole blood, plasma and serum pre-chemotherapy 3. Collect a representative formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) block of participant tumour tissue 4. Transport blood and cancer tissue samples to the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse cryostorage facility in Sydney, Australia 5. Establishment of a national biobank for testicular cancer Planned future objectives: Study association of progression (relapse or refractory disease), overall survival and toxicity (as surrogates for excess drug exposure) with genetic polymorphisms known to be involved in: - bleomycin metabolism: BLMH (bleomycin hydrolase gene) variant A1450G SNP - etoposide metabolism and transport: ABCB1 (3435T variant), CYP3A5 - candidate tumour-related markers including DNA methylation profiles of cancer-related genes Conclusions: The ultimate goal of this research is to facilitate a “personalised medicine” approach to the treatment of individuals with advanced germ cell tumours (GCT), with the ultimate goal of curing 100% of patients. We invite researchers with blood or tumour samples, and/or expertise in relevant laboratory techniques to collaborate in future analyses. Email: p3BEP@ctc.usyd.edu.au website: http://www.anzup.org.au Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

The effects of transport by pneumatic tube system on blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation and coagulation tests

Introduction:Today, the pneumatic tube transport system (PTS) is used frequently because of its advantages related to timing and speed. However, the impact of various types of PTS on blood components is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of PTS on the quality of routine blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation, and certain blood coagulation tests.Materials and methods:Paired blood samples were obtained from each of 45 human volunteers and evaluated by blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation, and several coagulation tests, including prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). Blood samples were divided into 2 groups: Samples from group 1 were transported to the laboratory via the PTS, and samples from group 2 were transported to the laboratory manually. Both groups were evaluated immediately by the tests listed above.Results:The blood sample test results from groups 1 and 2 were evaluated and compared. No statistically significant differences were observed (P = 0.069–0.977).Conclusion:The PTS yielded no observable effects on blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation, or PT and aPTT test results. We concluded that the PTS can be used to transport blood samples and yield reliable results for blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation, and several coagulation tests.

LabPush: A Pilot Study of Providing Remote Clinics with Laboratory Results via Short Message Service (SMS) in Swaziland, Africa

BackgroundTurnaround time (TAT) is an important indicator of laboratory performance. It is often difficult to achieve fast TAT for blood tests conducted at clinics in developing countries. This is because clinics where the patient is treated are often far away from the laboratory, and transporting blood samples and test results between the two locations creates significant delay.Recent efforts have sought to mitigate this problem by using Short Message Service (SMS) to reduce TAT. Studies reporting the impact of this technique have not been published in scientific literature however. In this paper we present a study of LabPush, a system developed to test whether SMS delivery of HIV related laboratory results to clinics could shorten TAT time significantly.MethodLapPush was implemented in six clinics of the Kingdom of Swaziland. SMS results were sent out from the laboratory as a supplement to normal transport of paper results. Each clinic was equipped with a mobile phone to receive SMS results. The laboratory that processes the blood tests was equipped with a system for digital input of results, and transmission of results via SMS to the clinics.ResultsLaboratory results were received for 1041 different clinical cases. The total number of SMS records received (1032) was higher than that of paper records (965), indicating a higher loss rate for paper records. A statistical comparison of TAT for SMS and paper reports indicates a statistically significant improvement for SMS. Results were more positive for more rural clinics, and an urban clinic with high workload.ConclusionSMS can be used to reduce TAT for blood tests taken at clinics in developing countries. Benefits are likely to be greater at clinics that are further away from laboratories, due to the difficulties this imposes on transport of paper records.

Device for Carrying Blood Samples at 37°C for Cryoglobulin Test

To reliably transport blood samples for cryoglobulin analysis, we have created a sample transport device containing a mixture of two waxes that solidifies at 38°C and maintains sample temperature at 38°C. Samples arriving at the laboratory at 37 to 38°C increased to 95% from 34% with the use of the device.

Blood sample tube transporting system versus point of care technology in an emergency department; effect on time from collection to reporting? A randomised trial

BackgroundTime is a crucial factor in an emergency department and the effectiveness of diagnosing depends on, among other things, the accessibility of rapid reported laboratory test results; i.e.: a short turnaround time (TAT). Former studies have shown a reduced time to action when point of care technologies (POCT) are used in emergency departments. This study assesses the hypothesis, that using Point of Care Technology in analysing blood samples versus tube transporting blood samples for laboratory analyses results in shorter time from the blood sample is collected to the result is reported in an emergency department.MethodsThe study was designed as a randomised controlled trial with consecutive allocation into two groups and rated 1:1. Blood samples were collected on all included patients and then randomised into either POCT analyses or tube transporting for central laboratory analyses.ResultsBlood samples from a total of 319 patients were included.The mean time from collecting to reporting was 24 minutes for the POCT analysis and 70 minutes for the tube transported analysis. An unpaired Students t-test showed a significant reduction in time from collecting to reporting using POCT (p<.0001).ConclusionWe found a significantly reduced time from collecting to reporting using Point of Care Technology (POCT) in an emergency department compared to tube transported blood samples for central laboratory analyses.

Evaluation of Flinders Technology Associates cards for collection and transport of samples for detection of Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

Blood, tissue and oral fluid samples collected from experimentally infected animals and field cases were used to evaluate the safety, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) cards for Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostics. The analytical sensitivity of PRRSV RT-PCR from serum and oral fluids in FTA cards was reduced, although the virus could still be detected at concentrations of 10(1) and 10(3) TCID/ml, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of PRRSV RT-PCR detection from serum, blood, and tissue samples in cards collected from experimentally infected animals were 100%. Sensitivity for oral fluids was 45% (95% CI: 19.97-73.01) compared to fresh. For field samples, sensitivity was 89% (95% CI: 77.35-95.63) and 100% (95% CI: 80.00-100) for serum and lung samples, respectively. The sensitivity was the same for samples stored in cards at room temperature or at 4ºC, and tested overnight or after 14 days. Cards inoculated with PRRSV-positive samples did not yield replicating virus after cell culture. In conclusion, FTA cards proved to be a safe, simple, and sensitive alternative method to transport serum, blood, and tissue samples for PRRSV RT-PCR diagnostics; however, a significant decrease in RT-PCR sensitivity should be expected from oral fluid samples.

Low-Cost HIV-1 Diagnosis and Quantification in Dried Blood Spots by Real Time PCR

BackgroundRapid and cost-effective methods for HIV-1 diagnosis and viral load monitoring would greatly enhance the clinical management of HIV-1 infected adults and children in limited-resource settings. Recent recommendations to treat perinatally infected infants within the first year of life are feasible only if early diagnosis is routinely available. Dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper are an easy and convenient way to collect and transport blood samples. A rapid and cost effective method to diagnose and quantify HIV-1 from DBS is urgently needed to facilitate early diagnosis of HIV-1 infection and monitoring of antiretroviral therapy.Methods and FindingsWe have developed a real-time LightCycler (rtLC) PCR assay to detect and quantify HIV-1 from DBS. HIV-1 RNA extracted from DBS was amplified in a one-step, single-tube system using primers specific for long-terminal repeat sequences that are conserved across all HIV-1 clades. SYBR Green dye was used to quantify PCR amplicons and HIV-1 RNA copy numbers were determined from a standard curve generated using serially diluted known copies of HIV-1 RNA. This assay detected samples across clades, has a dynamic range of 5 log10, and %CV <8% up to 4 log10 dilution. Plasma HIV-1 RNA copy numbers obtained using this method correlated well with the Roche Ultrasensitive (r = 0.91) and branched DNA (r = 0.89) assays. The lower limit of detection (95%) was estimated to be 136 copies. The rtLC DBS assay was 2.5 fold rapid as well as 40-fold cheaper when compared to commercial assays. Adaptation of the assay into other real-time systems demonstrated similar performance.ConclusionsThe accuracy, reliability, genotype inclusivity and affordability, along with the small volumes of blood required for the assay suggest that the rtLC DBS assay will be useful for early diagnosis and monitoring of pediatric HIV-1 infection in resource-limited settings.

A simple method for collecting measured whole blood with quantitative recovery of antibody activities for serological surveys

Compliance and acceptance for the finger-prick method of blood collection is generally better than for venipuncture. A finger-prick method of blood collection with quantitative antibody recovery is even more important for seroepidemiological surveys. Finger-prick blood collected and dried onto filter paper has been used; but, unfortunately, this method has several disadvantages, including loss of antibody activity, possible contact contamination from blood spots on adjacent filter papers, and difficulties in extracting antibodies, justifying the search for other methods of collecting and transporting blood samples. We report on a simple method of collecting a measured amount of finger-prick blood onto a sample pad, which is immediately transferred to storage/extraction buffer. The diluted blood sample is never dried, and because of the storage buffer, can be transported and stored without refrigeration. Furthermore, the diluted blood samples can then be tested directly without further preparation. We systematically compared several storage/extraction buffers and commercially available filter papers. We showed that antibody recovery was not significantly affected by the type of filter papers used but was significantly affected by the storage/extraction buffer used. The best such buffer is StabilZyme Select™.

PRESERVING LYMPHOCYTE RIBONUCLEIC ACID FOR ANALYSIS AND TRANSPORT FROM WHOLE BLOOD IN RURAL AREAS.

Background Preservation of human ribonucleic acid (RNA) from whole blood samples in rural areas with very few resources has previously been very difficult and/or expensive. This has limited clinical research trials in third world countries and distant rural areas in developed countries. The major drawback to being able to study these populations is the difficulty in transporting blood samples while maintaining the integrity and preventing degradation of the lymphocytes, DNA, protein, and RNA. Of these, RNA is the most difficult and expensive to preserve. Objective To develop an inexpensive, simple, and reliable method to collect and preserve high-quality RNA from whole blood lymphocytes for prolonged transport. Methods Blood was collected from young adult rats and treated four different ways. For the first method, blood was placed in an equal volume of RNAlater® and frozen in dry ice and then placed in −80°C for 1 week. This was then thawed on ice and processed. The second method used an equal volume of RNAlater® but was not frozen. The third method was diluted with an equal volume of water before processing. In the fourth method, fresh, undiluted blood was used. RNA was isolated with Trizol® LS immediately after collection or thawing. cDNA was then synthesized from this RNA. An RT-PCR was then run using the housekeeping gene GAPDH. Results The sample that had the highest expression was the untreated and undiluted whole blood sample at an average of 22.57 Ct. The second highest expression was the blood that was treated with RNAlater® and frozen for 1 week. This expressed at an average of 25.03 or 2.5 cycles later. The next highest expression was the blood diluted with water. The Ct value for it was an average of 30.89 or 8 cycles after the untreated blood. The fourth sample expressed at an average of 32.92 or over 10 cycles beyond the untreated blood. Conclusion We have successfully developed a simple, inexpensive, and reliable method of collection and stabilization of high-quality RNA from whole blood lymphocytes for transport and later experimental use. This preservation of RNA, when compared with fresh blood treated with RNAlater® or diluted with water, is expressed almost as highly as untreated or undiluted blood. We speculate that this procedure will greatly enhance the ability to study lymphocyte RNA in third world and rural area populations.