title: Impact of storage conditions on genetic analysis or viral load determination in clinical specimens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Storage and shipment conditions of clinical specimens affect the quality of nucleic acids and may interfere with molecular analysis. The aim of our study was to verify whether blood storage at room temperature affects single nucleotide polymorphisms analysis; moreover, we analysed the consequences of serum storage at 4°C on viral load determination of hepatitis B and C viruses.
  
  
  METHODS
  For single nucleotide polymorphism screening, genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA whole blood samples stored at room temperature for different times, quantified photometrically, and Factor V Leiden point mutation analysis was performed. For viral load determination, serum samples with medium or low viremias were stored at +4°C for different times and analysed by Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan tests for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA or hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While mutation analysis was successfully performed on all samples tested, serum storage at +4°C of HBV- and HCV-infected sera decreased viral load, in particular for low viremias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Storage of blood samples at room temperature up to 1 month does not affect the feasibility of genetic analysis, while serum storage at +4°C affects viral load.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciotti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Fabbio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marcuccilli
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Federici
authors.forename: Carlo Federico
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Perno
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardini
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood / Q000821:virology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013997:Time Factors; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA