Improved Step-by-Step qPCR Method for Absolute Telomere Length Measurement

Telomere length is a crucial marker of cellular aging and genomic stability, with significant implications for age-related diseases and cancers. This study introduces an improved quantitative PCR (qPCR) method for measuring absolute telomere length, addressing the need for accurate and high-throughput assessment in both clinical and research settings. Novel primers were designed for the single-copy gene interferon beta (IFNB1) to serve as an internal control, alongside a series of single-stranded oligonucleotide standards to establish a calibration curve. This approach allows for precise quantification of telomere length in kilobases per single copy gene copy number per chromosome. We validated this method using DNA samples from peripheral blood and buccal swabs from 17 healthy human volunteers, as well as umbilical cord blood from 9 healthy newborn babies, demonstrating its high linearity and reproducibility. Our findings indicate that this improved qPCR technique provides a rapid, cost-effective, and accurate means of measuring absolute telomere length, thereby facilitating large-scale studies and enhancing clinical diagnostics related to telomere biology.