QIAxcel RNA QC Kit v2.0

Fast, sensitive analysis of RNA

RNA quality is a critical factor for reliable results in gene expression studies and miRNA research, in which sensitive technologies such as real-time PCR or microarray analysis are used. Monitoring the integrity of the initial total RNA sample as well as products generated throughout the entire procedure is crucial, since their integrity strongly influences the predictive power of the detection method. Fully automated QIAxcel instruments enable fast and sensitive analysis of the integrity and quantity of total RNA and fragmented or intact cRNA (see figure  Streamlined RNA analysis using the QIAxcel system). Automated sample loading and analysis reduce manual handling of samples, minimizing the risk of RNA degradation and contamination. The degradation state of samples can be easily analyzed on QIAxcel instruments (see figures  Analysis of degraded RNA and  Analysis of plant RNA).

Objective quality values with the new RNA Integrity Score

The new QIAGEN RNA Integrity Score (RIS) provides an objective quality measurement for eukaryotic RNA samples and allows easy interpretation of sample integrity. The RIS is a value from 1 to 10 where a value of 10 indicates completely intact RNA (see figure  RIS indicates RNA integrity). The highly reproducible RIS eliminates the need for human interpretation and enables the implementation of rigorous quality control at appropriate breakpoints across workflows. This allows researchers to eliminate samples that do not meet the quality criteria required for downstream processes, reducing the risk of needing to repeat experiments and saving time and costs.
RNA analysis on QIAxcel instruments is highly reproducible and gives results comparable to the Agilent Bioanalyzer.

QIAxcel instruments use capillary gel electrophoresis to enable fast size-based separation of nucleic acids (see figure  Sample separation process). Unlike traditional agarose gel electrophoresis, separation is performed in a capillary of a ready-to-use gel cartridge. The samples are automatically loaded into an individual capillary and voltage is applied. The negatively charged nucleic acid molecules migrate through the capillary to the positively charged terminus. As with agarose gel electrophoresis, low-molecular-weight molecules migrate faster than high-molecular-weight molecules. As the molecules migrate through the capillary, they pass a detector which detects and measures the fluorescent signal. A photomultiplier converts the fluorescent signal into electronic data, which are then transferred to the computer for further processing using QIAxcel ScreenGel software. After processing, the data are displayed as an electropherogram or gel image.