Cell-free DNA reference intervals and preanalytical variables

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K08986
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Laboratory medicine
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: UNO Naoki 長崎大学, 医歯薬学総合研究科(医学系), 助教 (60624781)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: cell-free DNA / 溶血

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cell-free DNA is circulating DNA in blood. Although cell-free DNA has recently been tested in clinical laboratories, its measurement has not been standardized and preanalytical variables have not been well investigated. The present study demonstrated that mechanical damage of blood cells causes significant increase in cell-free DNA. This result indicates that the ratio of target cell-free DNA to reference cell-free DNA could be underestimated when blood cells are damaged during blood draw.

Free Research Field

分子診断技術

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

cell-free DNA検査の測定結果はしばしば正常な遺伝子に対する標的遺伝子の相対量で表される。この場合、標的遺伝子の増減とは無関係に正常な遺伝子の増減が結果に影響を及ぼす。臨床現場では採血時に赤血球が壊れる機械的溶血がしばしば起こる。本研究の結果は、溶血が起こった血液では正常な遺伝子のcell-free DNAが増加することを示しており、その結果、標的遺伝子の割合が実際よりも低く見積もられることを示している。これは臨床的に注意すべき重要な報告である。