DNA Genotek's Blog - The Genetic Link | Sample stability & transportation

A discussion of challenges and solutions for global shortages of materials for COVID-19 testing

The world is talking about the coronavirus pandemic and global health crisis we find ourselves living in. Healthcare professionals and researchers are scrambling for solutions ...

3 reasons why you should stabilize your DNA sample correctly

By: Katherine Lawless on 09/23/20 12:04

From sample collection to data analysis, it takes a lot of work to perform a successful genetics study. The quality of your DNA samples will affect the quality of your data. To ...

Laboratory safety and sample collection devices for SARS-CoV-2

By: Scott Rabuka on 06/10/20 9:15

On June 4, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a letter to clinical laboratory staff and health care providers reminding them to use appropriate transport ...

While social distancing, reaching donors shouldn’t be an issue

By: Katherine Lawless on 04/28/20 13:30

Governments and public health experts have advised almost everyone to stay home. The majority of the population is now working from home, while businesses and institutions are ...

Oh, the places you’ll go…to collect saliva samples

By: Katherine Lawless on 10/01/19 13:32

Around the world, genetic research continues to highlight new discoveries. Many of these discoveries are possible through the use of technologies that allow easy, non-invasive ...

Saliva as a sample type for genomic applications

By: Shauna White on 06/07/19 13:20

This week, I interviewed Scott Rabuka, Director of the Genomics Program at DNA Genotek for our podcast, Molecules, Microbes and Multiomics. Scott joined DNA Genotek in 2008 as ...

DNA saliva kits or traditional blood collection: which is more cost effective?

By: Scott Rabuka on 05/22/19 13:26

Many researchers have asked the question: can saliva replace blood for DNA collection and analysis? Research studies confirm that DNA from saliva is equivalent to DNA from ...

8 facts most people don’t know about DNA from saliva

By: Scott Rabuka on 02/01/19 10:25

Since the launch of this blog, The Genetic Link, in 2009, we have published numerous articles, interviews, technical information and infographics to share what we know about ...

How to execute large-scale DNA sample collection for genetic research - 10 essential considerations

By: Kerry Chatburn on 10/09/18 10:12

Genetic epidemiology, the study of how genetics contribute to health and disease in families and populations, seeks to derive a statistical analysis of how genetics works in ...

Discovering the genetics behind Ebola viral disease resistance

By: Kerry Chatburn on 10/17/17 14:13

Phase I: DNA sample Collection The Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The average EVD case ...

The SPARK project – Fueling the fire on autism research

By: Kerry Chatburn on 05/04/17 10:33

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated in 2012 that 1 in 68 children in the US have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) [1]

23andMe - 10 years and over 2 million DNA saliva samples collected with Oragene

By: Brian Smith on 04/18/17 9:15

Ten years ago, DNA Genotek had a vision and a unique product that we thought had the potential to change the world of genomics by allowing easy self-collection of DNA from ...

The power of ambient temperature sample shipping and storage

By: Devin Hale on 10/14/15 13:30

You may be aware that samples collected with DNA Genotek kits and reagents can be shipped and stored at ambient temperature. However, you may not have considered the many ...

Stabilize your sample: A “right from the start” Q&A

By: Devin Hale on 03/11/15 10:56

In an earlier blog post we discussed the importance of reliable samples for human genomics, microbiome and infectious disease nucleic acid based applications, and how a lack of ...

How critical is it to stabilize & standardize the microbiome profile?

By: Megan McGrath on 02/18/15 10:04

One of the most critical components of studying the microbiome is ensuring you have a profile that is representative of the microbial community present in the donor. The ...

Do you know the biggest challenge in genetics?

By: Devin Hale on 01/27/15 10:38

I’m sure you are familiar with the expression “Garbage in, Garbage out”. Popular in the field of computer science, it implies that incorrect or low quality input will result ...

Total protection of buffy coat samples - HEMAgene•BUFFY COAT stabilizing reagent

By: Megan McGrath on 02/26/14 10:37

DNA Genotek has been a leader in the biostabilization technology field for many years and throughout that time, many customers, like you, have used our Oragene product line. ...

Oragene as a solution for international DNA sample collection

By: Nicholas Ramdass on 10/22/13 9:56

The author of this article, Nicholas Ramdass, is a Sales Manager at DNA Genotek Inc. Oragene is truly a DNA collection device that has a global impact. Currently, Oragene is ...

Methodologies for the analysis of human exomes using DNA from saliva

By: Mike Tayeb on 07/11/13 9:34

Mike Tayeb is the Technical Support Manager at DNA Genotek Inc.

[INFOGRAPHIC] DNA from saliva vs blood – who wins the cost battle?

By: Shauna White on 09/12/12 14:08

Introducing DNA Genotek’s first visual adventure – a fun trip through the blood vs saliva cost journey. You and I know what they say, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ ...

Natural selection in high altitude: Oragene functions as an enabler for challenging field research

By: Nicholas Ramdass on 08/14/12 11:15

Rookie mistakes – they will occur. I remember the first time I tried to reach out to Dr. Cynthia Beall, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology at Case Western Reserve ...

Can saliva replace blood for DNA collection and analysis? (Part 3 of 3)

By: Kerry Chatburn on 07/25/12 11:23

Welcome to the final article in our 3 part series discussing whether or not saliva can replace blood for DNA collection and analysis. In part 1 and part 2 of this blog series, ...

Can saliva replace blood for DNA collection and analysis? (Part 2 of 3)

By: Kerry Chatburn on 07/17/12 11:27

Welcome to the second article in a 3 part series discussing whether or not saliva can replace blood for DNA collection and analysis. In part 1 of this blog series, we examined ...

Can saliva replace blood for DNA collection & analysis? (Part 1 of 3)

By: Kerry Chatburn on 07/12/12 11:02

Welcome to the first article in a 3 part series discussing whether or not saliva can replace blood for DNA collection and analysis. We hope you find this content interesting. ...

DNA from saliva vs. blood – who wins the cost battle?

By: Scott Rabuka on 05/07/12 11:22

Collecting saliva DNA is more effective and less costly for genetic research, a study suggests. The study, titled Specimen Collection within the CRN: A critical appraisal, ...

DNA from saliva to ID genetic variants of aggressive prostate cancer

By: Shauna White on 09/19/11 13:45

At DNA Genotek, we recently learned the details of study being conducted by Wake Forest University. We wanted to share some of this information with you here on The Genetic ...

Saliva as a medium to study microbial DNA

By: Shauna White on 07/13/11 10:34

Some researchers studying infectious diseases will use frozen whole mouth fluid (WMF) as a sample type for collecting microbial DNA. Storage of viable samples requires a ...

Oragene•DNA to Simplify DNA Collection for Genetic Study into ADHD

By: Shauna White on 05/25/11 13:30

This week, we were pleased to announce that our Oragene•DNA product was selected to collect DNA from saliva for the International Collaboration on ADHD and Substance Abuse ( ...

Generation Scotland overcomes recruitment challenge with Oragene•DNA

By: Shauna White on 08/31/10 13:08

At DNA Genotek, we recently learned the details of study being conducted by Generation Scotland called The Scottish Family Health Study. We wanted to share some of this ...

State Fair to drive DNA collection for children's study

By: Shauna White on 08/24/10 12:51

If you’re a regular reader of The Genetic Link, you’re familiar with our on-site DNA collections at events like Spit for the Cure, the National Epilepsy Walk, championship dog ...

Easy & painless DNA collection for infants, children and non-spitters

By: Shauna White on 08/10/10 12:22

Genetic research into diseases and conditions that predominantly affect children has always been particularly challenging. Traditionally, when high quality and high quantity ...

Storage of Purified DNA from Oragene•DNA Samples

By: Scott Rabuka on 06/29/10 10:30

A few weeks ago, I posted an article about best practices for long term storage of unpurified Oragene•DNA samples on The Genetic Link. The response to the article was positive ...

Solving Recruitment and Compliance Challenges with DNA from Saliva

By: Shauna White on 06/09/10 10:15

The number of clinical trial and epidemiological studies collecting genomic DNA from a large number of individuals is increasing rapidly. There are many options for obtaining ...

Best Practices for Long-term Storage of Oragene•DNA Samples

By: Scott Rabuka on 05/25/10 10:57

Oragene is well known for a number of characteristics - ease of use, non-invasive collection, high quality and quantity DNA and, of course, long term storage at ambient ...

Rinse, Swab or Spit -- What's the real source of DNA in saliva?

By: Brian Smith on 03/31/10 11:00

Saliva is one of the most accessible of our body's bio-fluids making saliva sample collection easy and non-invasive. Saliva also harbours a wide spectrum of genetic data that ...

DNA from Saliva.... The Newest Tool in Cancer Research?

By: Shauna White on 03/09/10 11:32

Recent statistics suggest cancer mortality rates are declining due to better prevention, early detection methods and improved treatments, yet so much remains to be done. With ...

7 Simple Steps to Maximize DNA Yield with Oragene•DNA

By: Scott Rabuka on 02/19/10 10:32

At DNA Genotek, we understand the importance of high quality DNA samples to support our customers' research and clinical studies. As a result, we work with our customers to ...

Hunting for Cancer Genes with DNA from Saliva

By: Shauna White on 02/09/10 12:57

Every day, it seems, scientists learn something new about how our genes work. One fascinating area of research involves understanding the role of our genes in the initiation, ...

Saliva-based DNA Collection Solves a Tropical Disease Mystery

By: Shauna White on 12/15/09 10:14

DNA Genotek recently announced that an international team of researchers used the Oragene product to investigate a genetic link to podoconiosis, a neglected tropical disease. ...

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