Considerations for peripheral blood transport and storage during large-scale multicentre metabolome research

We read with interest the multiomic studies by Kong et al and Chen et al examining gut microbiome–metabolome interactions and potential diagnostic and classification biomarkers in colorectal cancer.1 2 Large-scale, multicentre, multisample, longitudinal studies are imperative to understand complex relationships between the metabolome and digestive diseases. Analysis of matched blood and stool can advance biomarker development and aid mechanistic exploration, providing samples are collected and stored appropriately. Buffered kits are commercially available for stable transfer of stool samples to storage.3 However, stabilisation of metabolites from blood requires freezing that may be confounded by transport and storage variables including time to whole blood centrifugation, time to freezing and freezing temperature. The gold standard of immediate sample separation and freezing4 5 must be carefully balanced with pragmatic protocols, needed to facilitate standardised, cost-effective collection by busy clinical research facilities across multiple...

Source: Gut - January 5, 2024 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Alexander, J. L., Wyatt, N. J., Camuzeaux, S., Chekmeneva, E., Jimenez, B., Sands, C. J., Fuller, H., Takis, P., Ahmad, T., Doyle, J. A., Hart, A., Irving, P. M., Kennedy, N. A., Lees, C. W., Lindsay, J. O., McIntyre, R. E., Parkes, M., Prescott, N. J., R Tags: Open access, Gut PostScript Source Type: research