Abstract 4539: A new and standardized method to isolate viable, high-quality PBMCs from patient blood samples

Abstract With the rise of immunotherapy, monitoring patient immune responses during clinical trials has become increasingly critical. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) serve as a reliable analyte for various cellular analyses, including flow cytometry, ELISpot, and transcriptomics. However, acquiring high-quality PBMCs is traditionally challenging due to long shipment times that compromise cell integrity. Reports indicate that a significant number of patient samples are rendered unsuitable for downstream applications due to these delays. Additionally, traditional gradient centrifugation methods are manual, time-consuming, and require skilled personnel. In this study, we present a novel, standardized, and automation-friendly method for generating PBMCs from whole blood samples. This innovative approach consistently yields high-quality, viable PBMCs, even from older samples, overcoming the limitations of traditional methods. Our method minimizes the need for extensive hands-on training and produces cells ready for immediate use in downstream applications. By streamlining the PBMC isolation process, our method enhances the reliability and efficiency of immune monitoring and biomarker discovery in clinical and research settings. This advancement holds significant potential for improving the quality and consistency of PBMC samples, thereby facilitating more accurate and reproducible immunological analyses. Citation Format: Eleonora Naimo, Lotta Räty, Stefanie Niehues, Migena Kodra, Svetlana Khorkova, Konstantina Kostadinovska, Gregor Winkels. A new and standardized method to isolate viable, high-quality PBMCs from patient blood samples [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4539.