Table 2. Main telomere length measurement method characteristics.
| TL associated variables | Method | Short telomeres stimation | Resolution | Cell number required | Throughput | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean TL per sample |
TRF qPCR |
No No |
1kb ND |
1×106 cells 20 ng DNA |
Low High |
22-24 28 |
| Mean TL per cell | Flow-FISH | No | 0.3kb | 0.5×106 cells | High | 26 |
| Individual telomere spots |
Interphase Q-FISH HT Q-FISH (Improved method) Telomapping |
Yes Yes Yes |
0.3kb 0.3kb 0.3kb |
30 interphases 0.01×106 adherent cells 0.07×106 lymhoid cells Fixed hystologic section |
Low High Low |
37 5 (Original) 21, 40 (Improved) 6 |
| Individual telomeres |
Q-FISH STELA |
Yes Yes |
0.3kb 0.3kb |
15-20 metaphases 0.1×106 cells |
Low Low |
25, 33 45 |
ND, not determined