Table 1.
Sample Considerations
| Sample type | Applications | miRNA Yield* | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell lines | Gene Regulation | +++ | High quality miRNA usually |
| Fluorescence activated cell sorted cells | Translational, Basic Science | ++ | Lower yield, less heterogeneity |
| Fresh tissue (e.g., tumor) | Translational Research | +++ | Cell heterogeneity |
| Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue | Clinical, Translational Research | ++ | More reliable than mRNA as an analyte in FFPE |
| Laser-capture microdissected tissue | Translational Research | + | Less heterogeneity, but lower yeild, never completely pure |
| Plasma, Serum | Biomarkers | + | RNAses, low yield, typically cannot evaluate quality or quantity |
| Urine | Biomarkers | + | Can evaluate cell pellet vs. supernatant |
*
+ <1ng, ++ 1–10ng, +++ >10ng