Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Feasibility of extracting usable DNA from blood samples stored up to 21 years in the DiPiS study

Svärd, Agnes Andersson LU orcid ; Viberg, Ellen LU ; von Platen, India ; Jonsson, I. LU and Lundgren, Markus LU (2025) In Scientific Reports 15(1).
Abstract

This study assesses the feasibility of extracting high-quality DNA from blood samples stored at – 20 °C for up to 21 years under suboptimal conditions. It addresses sample mishandling in research, where many samples lack proper biobank protocols. Prior studies focused on short-term storage and controlled conditions, highlighting the negative effects of freeze–thaw cycles. This study evaluates whether DNA from long-term stored samples under suboptimal conditions can still meet quality standards for research purposes. Genomic DNA was extracted from 1012 capillary blood samples from the Diabetes Prediction in Skåne study. Samples were stored at – 20 °C for 7–21 years, and DNA was isolated using QIAamp DNA Blood Mini kits. DNA quantity,... (More)

This study assesses the feasibility of extracting high-quality DNA from blood samples stored at – 20 °C for up to 21 years under suboptimal conditions. It addresses sample mishandling in research, where many samples lack proper biobank protocols. Prior studies focused on short-term storage and controlled conditions, highlighting the negative effects of freeze–thaw cycles. This study evaluates whether DNA from long-term stored samples under suboptimal conditions can still meet quality standards for research purposes. Genomic DNA was extracted from 1012 capillary blood samples from the Diabetes Prediction in Skåne study. Samples were stored at – 20 °C for 7–21 years, and DNA was isolated using QIAamp DNA Blood Mini kits. DNA quantity, purity, and quality were analysed using spectrophotometry and automated electrophoresis. Overall, 75.7% of samples met quality standards for DNA quantity (≥ 20 ng/µL) and purity (A260/280 ratio 1.7–1.9), with the highest proportion in 12-year samples (83.5%). DNA quality was further assessed in 270 samples, where 57.8% had a DNA Integrity Number (DIN) of 7 or higher. This study suggests that historical blood samples stored under suboptmal conditions can still be viable for modern genomic analyses.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
author collaboration
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Blood sample, DNA concentration, DNA isolation, DNA quality, Long-term sample storage
in
Scientific Reports
volume
15
issue
1
article number
25637
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:40664750
  • scopus:105011773752
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-025-08257-y
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
792455ac-c307-45d1-a4d2-d22c645d2ab2
date added to LUP
2025-12-12 10:48:18
date last changed
2025-12-13 03:00:02
@article{792455ac-c307-45d1-a4d2-d22c645d2ab2,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study assesses the feasibility of extracting high-quality DNA from blood samples stored at – 20 °C for up to 21 years under suboptimal conditions. It addresses sample mishandling in research, where many samples lack proper biobank protocols. Prior studies focused on short-term storage and controlled conditions, highlighting the negative effects of freeze–thaw cycles. This study evaluates whether DNA from long-term stored samples under suboptimal conditions can still meet quality standards for research purposes. Genomic DNA was extracted from 1012 capillary blood samples from the Diabetes Prediction in Skåne study. Samples were stored at – 20 °C for 7–21 years, and DNA was isolated using QIAamp DNA Blood Mini kits. DNA quantity, purity, and quality were analysed using spectrophotometry and automated electrophoresis. Overall, 75.7% of samples met quality standards for DNA quantity (≥ 20 ng/µL) and purity (A260/280 ratio 1.7–1.9), with the highest proportion in 12-year samples (83.5%). DNA quality was further assessed in 270 samples, where 57.8% had a DNA Integrity Number (DIN) of 7 or higher. This study suggests that historical blood samples stored under suboptmal conditions can still be viable for modern genomic analyses.</p>}},
  author       = {{Svärd, Agnes Andersson and Viberg, Ellen and von Platen, India and Jonsson, I. and Lundgren, Markus}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  keywords     = {{Blood sample; DNA concentration; DNA isolation; DNA quality; Long-term sample storage}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Feasibility of extracting usable DNA from blood samples stored up to 21 years in the DiPiS study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08257-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-025-08257-y}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}