From Fill to Freeze: Redesigning homeRNA to Enable Robust Sampling and Scalable Downstream Processing Workflows for Remote Blood Transcriptomics

In-person research can introduce barriers to participation, including proximity to a study site and scheduling constraints. Our lab developed the homeRNA platform to address these barriers, enabling remote blood collection and RNA stabilization for transcriptomic research. To increase the applicability of homeRNA for large-scale studies, a redesigned version was developed with modifications to 1) improve usability for both participants and downstream processing laboratories, 2) allow for high-throughput manufacturing, and 3) extend the shelf life of the stabilizer tube. In this work, we systematically tested this design against anticipated stresses that can occur throughout a remote study (e.g., high temperature exposure during shipment) to identify and characterize its limitations. We found that the homeRNA device can be prepared and stored at room temperature at least three months in advance of sampling with continued shelf life analysis underway. We also found that the homeRNA platform produces RNA of sufficient quality for downstream transcriptomic analysis under standard shipping durations (i.e., 2 days in transit) and ambient-to-high temperature conditions (i.e., 25-40 °C) and that RNA quality is unaffected by variable blood volumes collected by participants (mean RIN=7.8 in blood volumes 0.25-1 mL). Lastly, we also found that samples can be stored in typical cold storage temperatures and even up to standard room temperature for at least 4 weeks (mean RIN=8.1 after 4 weeks of storage at -80 to 20 °C). This work validates that the new homeRNA platform is robust to many of the expected stresses that samples can experience during remote studies.