Table 1.

Summary of the advantages and disadvantages of available blood collection tubes

Tube type	Examples	Advantages	Disadvantages
EDTA anti-coagulant	• EDTA K2 • EDTA K3	• Inexpensive • Readily available • Follows standard processes for handling of blood tubes	• Processing within 6 h
Preservatives	• StreckCell-free DNA BCT • Qiagen PAXgene Blood ccfDNA tubes • Roche cFDNA tubes • ThermoFisher Liquid Biopsy Blood collection kit • Norgen cfDNA Preservation tube • MagBio Blood STASIS 21ccfDNA tubes • Biomatrica LBgard blood tubes • CellSave Preservation tubes (Janssen Diagnostics)	• Storage and transport at ambient temperature • Provides up to 72 h for processing • Readily available	• Expensive • Out of step with usual practice for handling of blood tubes i.e. storage at ambient temperature • Some only available as a glass tube