Collecting, storing, and analyzing DNA is an important part of many medical professions and fields.
To achieve viable results, any industry needs stable and high-quality samples from which to extract DNA. Fresh blood samples are generally not used due to difficulties in collection, transportation, or storage. However, DNA samples extracted from dried blood are still viable and stable.
DNA is usually obtained from cheek cells or white blood cells.
DNA is usually obtained from one of two main sources : cheek cells or white blood cells . Cheek cell samples have a high risk of infection by viruses, bacteria, or environmental factors. Therefore, blood is the preferred source of DNA samples.
However, blood samples also have their own limitations, and if not transported and stored correctly, the samples will begin to become unusable within a very short time frame. DNA extraction from fresh blood is a complex and resource-intensive process that is not suitable for resource-poor environments, including field research.
Dried blood samples do not have the same time and temperature restrictions as wet blood. We can efficiently collect it at the source and transport and store it for later DNA extraction without having to go through a chilling step.
Method using filter paper and microscope.
Traditionally, DNA has been extracted using blots of dried blood on filter paper. However, studies show that this method requires many people to coordinate, and through many extraction steps, it is difficult to apply research in the field. Microscopy technology such as volumetric absorption has removed many barriers to efficient DNA collection, which have long been entangled in previous methods.
Another benefit of using dried blood stains for DNA extraction is their “longevity” in dried blood. Some studies have come to the conclusion that the DNA in blood stains can last up to several months. The results showed little variation even with increased temperature and humidity conditions. There were no significant differences in the quality of DNA extracted from blood spots exposed to a relative humidity of 93% or a temperature of 35°C. These tests were performed over a period of at least 3 months. without significant degradation of DNA upon extraction.
Laboratory conditions were also applied to evaluate the degradation of the obtained dried blood samples. The results showed that the DNA was not degraded, regardless of the extraction method, when the samples were stored at 4 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. From the study results, it was shown that standard laboratory conditions, including the possibility of significant cooling of the samples, were not necessary for the stability or lifetime of the DNA in the dried blood spots obtained. from micro-engineering.