AB0499 FINGERSTICK BLOOD TRANSCRIPTOMICS: A PATIENT-CENTRIC APPROACH TO ENABLE PRECISION MEDICINE?
Authors: Matteo Cesaroni, Jessica Schreiter, Loqmane Seridi, Jarrat Jordan, Marc Chevrier, Nando Bansal, Theresa Pattery, Jorge Villacian
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background:</h3> Venous blood collection using PAXgene RNA blood stabilization (PAX) is a routine method to obtain blood for gene expression (GE) analysis requiring phlebotomy and cold chain transport. DxCollect<sup>®</sup> is a fingerstick blood micro collection device (MCD) that circumvents phlebotomy and is reported to stabilize blood RNA for up to 14 days at ambient temperature potentially enabling collected blood to be shipped by mail. <h3>Objectives:</h3> We evaluated DxCollect<sup>®</sup> as an alternative to the conventional method to potentially improve convenience and cost effectiveness of blood transcriptomic analysis and allow high frequency transcriptomic assessment. <h3>Methods:</h3> Heparinized blood samples were treated with interferon-α for 3h <i>in vitro</i> and transferred to 3 PAX and 3 MCD tubes. One PAX and MCD for each treatment was stored at ambient temperature for 7 and 14 days or frozen. RNA from PAX tubes and MCD was extracted and GE performed by qPCR and DxDirect<sup>®</sup> platform respectively. Interferon-inducible gene signature was compared between the two platforms. In addition, RNASeq was performed on immediately frozen PAX and MCD to examine suitability for broad transcriptomics. <h3>Results:</h3> IFN-GE was comparable between PAX and MCD samples when frozen directly after collection. Stability of MCD IFN-GE was largely unchanged at 7 and 14 days of ambient storage while PAX IFN-GE decreased over storage period. Comprehensive QC of RNA-Seq showed no significant differences in the two platforms in terms of RNA quality and integrity. Transcriptional diversity and levels were comparable with an overall correlation between PAX and MCD &gt; 95%. <h3>Conclusion:</h3> MCD showed greater stability at ambient temperature and required minimal blood collection volumes. Downstream GE data from MCD finger stick blood collected was comparable to current PAX method. MCD in clinical trials may enable better resolution of temporal transcriptional changes and the ability to capture unpredictable events such as disease flare through ad hoc home collections allowing high frequency transcriptomic assessment. MCD coupled with a gene expression platform could become an opportunity for diagnostic development in the growing field of precision medicine. <h3>References</h3> None <h3>Disclosure of Interests:</h3> Matteo Cesaroni Employee of: Janssen Research &amp; Development, LLC, Jessica Schreiter Employee of: Janssen Research &amp; Development, LLC, Loqmane Seridi Employee of: Janssen Research &amp; Development, LLC, Jarrat Jordan Employee of: Janssen Research &amp; Development, LLC, Marc Chevrier Shareholder of: J&amp;J, Employee of: JnJ, Nando Bansal Shareholder of: JnJ, Employee of: JnJ, Theresa Pattery Shareholder of: JnJ, Grant/research support from: JnJ, Employee of: JnJ, Jorge Villacian Shareholder of: JnJ, Grant/research support from: JnJ, Employee of: JnJ, Paid instructor for: JnJ, Speakers bureau: JnJ