Achieving Clinical Trial Success with Appropriate PBMC Isolation Tools
The quality of data obtained from specialized laboratory testing is largely dependent on the complete properties of the samples tested. A critical aspect of this work is the appropriate isolation of PBMCs - peripheral blood mononuclear cells - commonly used in high-throughput, complex flow cytometry studies.
To achieve the best quality results, researchers must use the most optimal tubes to isolate these cells. The main types of tubes commonly used are: SepMate tubes, CPT tubes, and manual Ficoll gradient tubes. Each of these tubes has advantages and disadvantages that researchers must consider when measuring techniques. In this blog post, we will review the advantages and disadvantages of each tube type and what you should consider before choosing one for your clinical trial readiness.
SepMate Tubes: SepMate tubes come in a variety of sizes that allow researchers to separate PBMCs from multiple tubes at once. These tubes work by using separation technology with a plastic layer inserted in the middle of the tube, which acts as a barrier, helping to remove unwanted cell clumps during density-shift centrifugation. At the same time, cell collection requires a simple ejection operation, as the password gradient solution is retained below the plastic layer along with the unwanted cells. One of the most significant advantages of these tubes is that they can be easily used for small to medium sized samples. This technology also divides cells in a moderate way, making it easy to accurately measure cell concentrations after the separation process. Furthermore, this tube allows for rapid and consistent layering and easy collection of PBMCs, making it ideal for research. However, high neutrophil (neutrophil) rates cannot be achieved because they will be trapped under the barrier inside the tube. SepMate tubes are disposable, which means that SepMate tubes are more suitable for long-term financial stability. SepMate tubes are a worthy investment.
Biogroup is currently a distributor of STEMCELL Technologies, the manufacturer of SepMate tubes. Please contact us for advice or a quote.
CPT tubes:
CPT tubes are layered tubes containing coagulants that allow direct collection to the cell separation process without further processing. CPT tubes simplify the separation process and reduce the database. It provides a more robust PBMC analysis process and instrument manufacturers can produce a product type to suit different research needs for human cell testing. This tube produces high yield PBMCs with high cell viability, making them an optimal choice where quality is paramount. The main drawback of CPT tubes is the better price when compared to other types of tube analysis PBMCs.
Tube Ficoll gradient tools:
The Ficoll gradient tools require manual handling and processing, so they are not automated. Therefore, handling Ficoll gradient tubes separately can cause variability in the manual layering steps, leading to variability in the final cell yield. The biggest issue with this type of isolation tube is that it takes longer to get the actual PBMCs, so with the use of SepMate or CPT tubes, this can create more variability in your study. Additionally, due to the manual nature of this type of PBMC isolation, the final PBMC recovery rate is often dependent on the experience of the researcher.
Conclusion
In short, the right tube type will depend on your primary research requirements. Whatever your choice, it is important to ensure that you choose a tube type that meets the technical requirements of your research and delivers high-quality results.
