The quality of DNA extracted from liquid or dried blood is not adversely affected by storage at 4 degrees C for up to 24 h.

BACKGROUND A consistent and stable source of DNA is an essential requirement for many Biobanks. An important pre-analytical variable is the delay between sample collection and sample processing. METHODS Fresh blood samples (n = 80) were collected and either processed immediately or after storage for 24 h. The samples were either stored as liquid blood at 4 degrees C or as dried blood spots at ambient temperature on three types of paper-based storage media. The quality of the DNA extracted from the samples was measured. RESULTS No difference was observed between fresh and stored blood samples. CONCLUSIONS The quality of DNA extracted from liquid or dried blood is not adversely affected by storage at 4 degrees C for up to 24 h.

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