PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Amanda J. Haack AU - Fang Yun Lim AU - Dakota S. Kennedy AU - John H. Day AU - Karen N. Adams AU - Jing J. Lee AU - Erwin Berthier AU - Ashleigh B. Theberge TI - <em>home</em>RNA: A self-sampling kit for the collection of peripheral blood and stabilization of RNA AID - 10.1101/2021.02.08.430337 DP - 2021 Jan 01 TA - bioRxiv PG - 2021.02.08.430337 4099 - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/05/11/2021.02.08.430337.short 4100 - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/05/11/2021.02.08.430337.full AB - Gene expression analysis (e.g., targeted gene panels, transcriptomics) from whole blood can elucidate mechanisms of immune function and aid in the discovery of biomarkers. Conventional venipuncture offers only a small snapshot of our broad immune landscape as immune responses may occur outside of the time and location parameters available for conventional venipuncture. A self-operated method that enables flexible sampling of liquid whole blood coupled with immediate stabilization of cellular RNA is instrumental in facilitating capture and preservation of acute or transient immune fluxes. To this end, we developed homeRNA: a kit for self-collection of peripheral blood (∼0.5 mL) and immediate stabilization of cellular RNA, using the Tasso-SST™ blood collection device with a specially designed stabilizer tube containing RNAlater™. To assess the feasibility of homeRNA for self-collection and stabilization of whole blood RNA, we conducted a pilot study (n = 47 participants) where we sent homeRNA to participants aged 21-69, located across 10 US states (94% successful blood collections, n = 61/65). Among participants who successfully collected blood, 93% reported no or minimal pain/discomfort using the kit (n = 39/42), and 79% reported very easy/somewhat easy stabilization protocol (n = 33/42). Total RNA yield from the stabilized samples ranged between 0.20 µg and 5.99 µg (mean = 1.51 µg), and all but one RNA Integrity Number (RIN) values were above 7.0 (mean = 8.1), indicating limited RNA degradation. Results from this study demonstrate the self-collection and RNA stabilization of whole blood with homeRNA by participants themselves, in their own home.Competing Interest StatementAs we have stated in the manuscript: “The authors acknowledge the following potential conflict of interests: ABT: ownership in Stacks to the Future, LLC. EB: ownership in Stacks to the Future, LLC, Salus Discovery, LLC, and Tasso, Inc., and employment by Tasso, Inc. Technologies from Stacks to the Future, LLC and Salus Discovery, LLC are not included in this publication. The blood collection device used in this publication is from Tasso, Inc; the terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of Washington in accordance with its policies governing outside work and financial conflicts of interest in research.”