All sample collection should be carried out in a timely manner in an RNase free environment. Pay close attention to the minimum amount of materials required. If you have less than these minimum amounts or your previously isolated samples have been stored differently than we recommend, please contact a Technical Support representative before submitting your samples.

Standard RNA Isolation
      Cells
      Tissue
      Blood
      Others
Specialized RNA Isolation
      Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE)
      Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM)
      Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsies (FNAB) and Other Small Samples
For All Samples

Standard RNA Isolation:

Cells:

• Provide at least 0.5 million (10⁶) cells for each sample.
• Specify the number of cells on the order form.
• Snap freeze the cell pellets in liquid nitrogen.
• Store samples frozen at -80 ºC, and ship on dry ice.

Tissue:

• If available or known, provide at least 50 mg of tissue for each sample.
• If available or known, specify the weight of the tissue on the order form.
• Snap freeze tissues in liquid nitrogen.
• Alternatively, store and ship in the RNA stabilization reagent, RNAlater™(Ambion, catalog number 7020) according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Store samples frozen at -80 ºC, and ship on dry ice.

Blood:

• Prepare blood for shipment immediately upon collection.
• Submit a minimum of 3.0 ml of blood per individual.
• Specify the volume of blood on the order form.
• The preferred method for processing blood samples before shipment uses the Vacutainer™ CPT™ tubes (BD Bioscience, catalog number 362760, 362761). Snap freeze white blood cell pellets in liquid nitrogen.
• Alternatively, immediately follow the protocol in the Versagene RNA Isolation Kit (VGR-0050B2) through white blood cell lysis. Snap freeze the freeze the lysate in liquid nitrogen.
• Alternatively, freeze blood immediately upon collection in PAXgene tubes (Qiagen, catalog number 762115) or Tempus tubes (ABI, catalog number 4342792).
• Store samples frozen at -80 ºC, and ship on dry ice.

Others:

• Please contact a Technical Support representative.

Specialized RNA Isolation:

Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE):

• Please consult a Technical Support representative before isolating and submitting samples.
• For slide-mounted tissue sections, submit at least two slides with at least 5- to 10-micron thick sections. More slides may be requested from certain tissue sources, if available.
• For freshly cut sections of whole FFPE blocks, submit three to four 20-micron thick sections.
• Specify fixation procedure and age of samples.
• Store and ship at ambient temperature.

Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM):

• Please consult a Technical Support representative before isolating and submitting samples.
• Capture cells on Arcturus Capsure® LCM caps (catalog number LCM0211).
• Store samples frozen at -80 ºC, and ship on dry ice.

Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsies (FNAB) and Other Small Samples:

• Please consult a Technical Support representative before isolating and submitting samples.
• Use the instructions listed above for Standard RNA Isolation from your biological sample.

For all samples:

• Obtain a sample submission form from a Technical Sales representative.
• Complete the form and include it with the shipment of your samples.
• Include the amount of material and its storage conditions.
• Sign and date the form.
• Follow the same directions for the shipment of RNA [here] for shipping your samples.

Once we isolate RNA from your samples, we use our standard in-house Quality Control assays to check the yield and quality of the RNA. The results of these tests largely depend on how carefully the samples were collected, stored, stabilized, and shipped. SABiosciences makes no claims or guarantees that RNA of sufficient quality and quantity will be isolated form the samples that you provide us.