TABLE 5.
Key Differences between Classical DCA and the RABiT-II DCA
| Assay characteristics | Conventional DCA | RABiT-II DCA |
|---|---|---|
| Culturing step | ||
| Cultivation | Tubes/flasks | Multiwell plate (96 samples) |
| Starting blood volume | 500 μl | 30 μl |
| Working volume | 5 ml per tube or flask | 300 μl per well |
| Lymphocyte isolation | Optional | No |
| FISH staining | ||
| Sampling | Glass slide | Multiwell plate |
| Pre-/post-treatment | Yes | No |
| Washes | Yes | No |
| Hybridization temperature | 75–80°C | 37°C |
| Probe composition | With blocking reagents | Formamide only |
| Max time | 1–2 days | 4 h |
| Chromosome analysis | ||
| Magnification | 63× | 20× |
| Target objects | Whole metaphases | Individual chromosomes |
| Parameter | Dicentrics per metaphase | Dicentrics per chromosomes |
| Triage scoring | ||
| Operation | Manual/semi-automated (human) | Automated (RABiT-II) |
| Throughput | Less than 1 h/sample; with QuickScan 20 min/sample | 10 min/sample |