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To the homeRNAmax: Developing an Improved Blood Self-Collection and Stabilization Platform for Remote Transcriptomic
Madeleine Eakman1, Filip Stefanovic1, Jean Berthier1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|December 15, 2025
Summary
The homeRNAmax kit enables remote blood collection and immediate RNA stabilization for gene expression analysis. This user-friendly device ensures high-quality RNA yield, overcoming previous limitations for decentralized research.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Decentralizing human subjects research by enabling remote sample collection removes participation barriers.
- Previous homeRNA kit stabilized RNA in self-collected blood using a custom tube.
- Immediate RNA stabilization is crucial for downstream gene expression analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce homeRNAmax, an improved kit for remote blood RNA stabilization.
- Enhance compatibility with commercial blood collection tubes and increase sample volume.
- Characterize the spill-resistant mechanism of the homeRNA platform.
Main Methods:
- Developed homeRNAmax kit compatible with BD Microtainer tubes.
- Conducted a pilot study with 19 participants using homeRNAmax with Tasso+ device.
- Utilized a theoretical model to analyze the spill-resistant fluidic feature.
Main Results:
- homeRNAmax yielded high-quality RNA (mean RIN=7.8) and sufficient yield (mean=1.93 μg) for analysis.
- Participants across the US successfully used the kit, with 17/19 finding it easy to use.
- Theoretical model explained the spill-resistant feature based on pressure balance.
Conclusions:
- homeRNAmax is a user-friendly and effective tool for remote blood RNA stabilization.
- The improved design increases sample volume and compatibility with existing collection methods.
- The spill-resistant feature ensures safe and reliable remote sample collection.
