Yourgene Health plc, a number one worldwide molecular diagnostics group, at present introduced information demonstrating that extended storage of blood in EDTA tubes is appropriate with non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) when utilizing measurement choice to counterpoint the fetal fraction. Scalable and exact DNA measurement choice following EDTA tube utilization gives a cost-efficient different to using costlier blood assortment tubes (BCTs) and improves next-generation sequencing (NGS) workflows, decreasing the danger of failed screening checks for expectant moms. The information is presently being introduced on the 27^th International Conference on Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy (ISPD) in Edinburgh, UK on 19^th June 2023.

The collaborative research with Tommy’s Charity and St Mary’s NHS Hospital (Manchester, UK) used Yourgene’s IONA^® Nx NIPT Workflow, a completely validated scientific workflow which utilises NGS to estimate the trisomy threat within the fetus. The workflow incorporates the distinctive size-selection functionality of the corporate’s proprietary Ranger^® Technology to gather DNA library materials inside an outlined measurement vary. This step enriches the fetal-derived cell-free DNA (cfDNA) fragments in samples by decreasing the variety of bigger maternal DNA fragments. In addition, Yourgene has a patent pending in relation to the EDTA functionality that has been filed.

Many NIPT clinics and hospitals take a maternal blood pattern with an costly BCT, reminiscent of a Streck tube, and the pattern is steady for as much as 14 days. However, the information introduced has proven the potential to make use of EDTA tubes, that are generally used and a considerably decrease value, with confirmed stability as much as 7 days.

Sample stability and dealing with are essential parts within the preservation of acceptable ranges of fetal fraction and in the end, the profitable use of NIPT. Cell lysis because of pattern instability can lead to the discharge of maternal genomic DNA, which dilutes the fetal-derived cfDNA, thereby decreasing the fetal fraction. The outcomes of the research exhibit that measurement choice can be utilized to recuperate the fetal fraction from entire blood saved in EDTA tubes over a protracted interval that exceeds the earlier restrict of 8 hours.

The outcomes of Yourgene’s research with Tommy’s and St Mary’s Hospital drastically enhance the feasibility of EDTA tube utilization in NIPT, notably in conditions the place delayed transport of samples between assortment web site and evaluation areas might happen. There’s additionally a substantial saving in the price of the blood stabilising tubes, and related licensing charges within the US. This gives larger flexibility and option to labs and clinicians, whereas offering sufferers with quick, secure, and correct screening outcomes.”

Dr Joanne Mason, Chief Scientific Officer, Yourgene Health