Affymetrix Launches New GeneChip Globin-Reduction Kits

Affymetrix announced the launch of the new GeneChip Globin-Reduction kits and associated protocol developed in conjunction with PreAnalytiX -- a joint venture between QIAGEN and Becton Dickinson.

The new kits optimize the PreAnalytiX PAXgene Blood RNA System for use with Affymetrix GeneChip technology and improve gene expression profile results of cellular RNA extracted from whole blood. The combination of the GeneChip Blood RNA Concentration Kit (featuring the PAXgene Blood RNA System) and the GeneChip Globin-Reduction RNA Controls standardizes all the steps of whole blood RNA processing -- from sample stabilization to analysis on GeneChip microarrays.

Use of the Globin-Reduction Protocol and associated reagent kits enables researchers to detect subtle changes in gene expression by reducing the overwhelming amounts of globin messenger RNA (mRNA) present in whole blood. Large amounts of globin mRNA can significantly interfere with gene expression assay results. High globin mRNA levels contributed from a fraction of the red blood cells have typically masked the less abundant, but more important, changes of gene expression associated with white blood cells, such as lymphocytes and monocytes. Counteracting the effects of globin mRNA during target preparation significantly increases assay sensitivity on GeneChip arrays.