ISSN:
1573-7276
Keywords:
carcinoembryonic antigen
;
circulating tumour cells
;
colorectal cancer
;
false positive results
;
RT-PCR
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We assessed whether circulating cell positivity using RT-PCR for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) cDNA was affected by venesection via a needle compared/with a pre-aspirated venous cannula, and by increased PCR cycles. Systemic blood was sampled by needle and pre-aspirated cannula in 101 healthy individuals with no cancer history. After erythrocyte removal, samples were subjected to RT-PCR using specific primers for CEA, with 29 or 35 RT-PCR cycles. There was a significant difference between the number of subjects whose samples were negative when collected via needle venesection and positive when collected via pre-aspirated cannula, compared with positive by needle venesection and negative by pre-aspirated cannula for both 29 (P=0.016) and 35 (P=0.011) RT-PCR cycles. Venesection technique (P=0.01) and number of cycles (P=0.003) were significant predictors of a positive result. Positive results in healthy subjects were reduced to less than 3% when an aspirated cannula was used for venesection and 〉29 PCR cycles were avoided.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1011034302639
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