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PreprintCC BY-NC-NDbioRxiv

homeRNA Just Dropped! Streamlining Remote Blood Collection and RNA Stabilization for Smaller Sample Volumes with homeRNAdrop

  • M. Eakman
  • F. Stefanovic
  • W. Liang
  • I. H. Robertson
  • A. Jindal
  • K. N. Adams
  • E. Berthier
  • A. J. Haack1
  • A. B. Theberge
  1. 1Texas Tech University
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Abstract

At-home sampling can address obstacles to participation in transcriptomics research. We previously developed the homeRNA and homeRNAmax platforms; these custom-designed tubes containing RNA stabilizer interface with a blood tube compatible with upper-arm blood collection devices, allowing for blood collection and RNA stabilization to occur from a participant's home. In this work we introduce homeRNAdrop, an insert for a commercially available blood tube (BD Microtainer) that divides the tube into two compartments: the top compartment holds 200 L blood and the bottom compartment holds ~590 L liquid stabilizer (RNAlater). By combining blood collection and RNA stabilization into the same tube, homeRNAdrop streamlines sample preparation for participants and allows for more compact sample storage for the lab. In a remote pilot study, n=25 participants from across the United States tested the homeRNAdrop kit. The n=23 samples successfully received by the lab show that samples collected using homeRNAdrop are of sufficient RNA quality (all RINs > 6, a common cutoff for analysis) and yield (mean yield=1.44 g) for downstream gene expression analysis. Almost all participants who successfully collected blood using the Tasso Mini device found the homeRNAdrop device easy to use (n=23/24). Overall, this work adds a simplified, user-friendly platform to the growing suite of tools for remote blood RNA stabilization.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@misc{eakman2026homerna,
  title = {{homeRNA Just Dropped! Streamlining Remote Blood Collection and RNA Stabilization for Smaller Sample Volumes with homeRNAdrop}},
  author = {M. Eakman and F. Stefanovic and W. Liang and I. H. Robertson and A. Jindal and K. N. Adams and E. Berthier and A. J. Haack and A. B. Theberge},
  howpublished = {bioRxiv},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.64898/2026.09.22.753625},
  url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.753625v1},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - UNPB
TI  - homeRNA Just Dropped! Streamlining Remote Blood Collection and RNA Stabilization for Smaller Sample Volumes with homeRNAdrop
AU  - M. Eakman
AU  - F. Stefanovic
AU  - W. Liang
AU  - I. H. Robertson
AU  - A. Jindal
AU  - K. N. Adams
AU  - E. Berthier
AU  - A. J. Haack
AU  - A. B. Theberge
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/22
PB  - bioRxiv
DO  - 10.64898/2026.09.22.753625
UR  - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.22.753625v1
AB  - At-home sampling can address obstacles to participation in transcriptomics research. We previously developed the homeRNA and homeRNAmax platforms; these custom-designed tubes containing RNA stabilizer interface with a blood tube compatible with upper-arm blood collection devices, allowing for blood collection and RNA stabilization to occur from a participant's home. In this work we introduce homeRNAdrop, an insert for a commercially available blood tube (BD Microtainer) that divides the tube into two compartments: the top compartment holds 200 L blood and the bottom compartment holds ~590 L liquid stabilizer (RNAlater). By combining blood collection and RNA stabilization into the same tube, homeRNAdrop streamlines sample preparation for participants and allows for more compact sample storage for the lab. In a remote pilot study, n=25 participants from across the United States tested the homeRNAdrop kit. The n=23 samples successfully received by the lab show that samples collected using homeRNAdrop are of sufficient RNA quality (all RINs > 6, a common cutoff for analysis) and yield (mean yield=1.44 g) for downstream gene expression analysis. Almost all participants who successfully collected blood using the Tasso Mini device found the homeRNAdrop device easy to use (n=23/24). Overall, this work adds a simplified, user-friendly platform to the growing suite of tools for remote blood RNA stabilization.
ER  -