Paxgene blood rna vacutainer tubes

Whole blood, sourced from either peripheral venipuncture or from arterial access sheaths, was collected during the index hospitalization period prior to cardiac catheterization and prior to administration of anticoagulants, such as heparin. None of the patients were receiving heparin at the time of blood sampling. Blood samples of patients who presented with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non‐ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) were sampled prior to hospital discharge. Samples were collected in PAXgene blood RNA vacutainer tubes and stored at −80°C (Qiagen). PAXgene blood RNA tubes were thawed on ice and incubated at room temperature overnight for processing. Total RNA was extracted, including miRNAs, using the PAXgene Blood miRNA kit (Qiagen; CAT #763134) according to the manufacturer’s instructions for isolation of RNA from whole blood. Total RNA was then quantified using Qubit Fluorometers Quantification (Thermo Fisher Scientific). RNA quantity and the amount of miRNA was assessed using the Agilent Bioanalyzer (Agilent Technologies).