Question: How should tissue samples be transported from the collection site prior to sample fixation for use in the Fixed RNA Profiling (i.e., Single Cell Expression Flex) assay?
Answer: Tissue can be shipped in a few ways:
- A piece of tissue can be flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen and shipped on dry ice. For optimal assay performance, this is the preferred method for tissue transportation. For guidance on how to proceed with frozen tissue samples, please review: Which tissue dissociation protocols are supported for use with the Fixed RNA Profiling assay?
- It may be possible to transport tissue using cold preservation solutions, as outlined here: How can I ship tissue for 3' Gene Expression profiling? However, these solutions have not been tested in-house for use the Fixed RNA Profiling assay. It is important to note that RNase-rich tissues show decreased cell viability even at short storage times (24hrs). Usage of a storage solution is not recommended for such tissue types, processing fresh samples or flash-freezing the tissue is recommended to avoid sample degradation. It is important to note that protocols for processing tissue that worked well with Single Cell Gene Expression Assay (i.e. 3’ GEX) are expected to perform similarly with Fixed RNA Profiling assay.
Products: Fixed RNA Profiling Gene Expression, Single Cell Gene Expression Flex