Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026
Detection of Cell-Free DNA in Blood Plasma Samples of Cancer Patients
Published on: September 9, 2020
Comprehensive evaluation of methods to isolate, quantify, and characterize circulating cell-free DNA from small
Florence Mauger1, Cécile Dulary, Christian Daviaud
1Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, Centre National de Génotypage, CEA-Institut de Génomique, 2 rue Gaston Crémieux, CP 5721, 91000, Evry, France.
Abstract:
Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) has great potential for non-invasive diagnostics, and prediction and monitoring of treatment response, but its amount is usually limited. Therefore, the choice of methods to extract and characterize ccfDNA is crucial. In the current study, we performed the most comprehensive comparison of methods for ccfDNA extraction (11 methods), quantification (3 methods), and estimation of the integrity index (2 methods) from small quantities of different kinds of plasma. The QIAamp® Circulating Nucleic Acid Kit and the Norgen Plasma/Serum Circulating DNA Purification Mini Kit showed the best accuracy and reproducibility, but the Norgen kit allowed to extract a higher amount of ccfDNA. This workflow provides a reliable protocol for the multiple applications of ccfDNA in biomedicine.
