Performance Comparison of the ExperionTM Automated Electrophoresis System and a Competing Automated System for RNA Analysis

RNA samples and ladders were prepared according to the protocols described in the instruction manuals for the Experion RNA analysis kits and the Agilent 6000 LabChip kits. RNA samples and ladders were first heat-denatured for 2 min at 70°C and then kept on ice until use. The heat-denatured total RNA and mRNA stocks were diluted to the desired final concentrations in either RNase-free TE buffer, pH 7.0 (for use with the Experion RNA StdSens and RNA 6000 Nano LabChip analysis kits), or in DEPC-treated water (for use with the Experion RNA HighSens and RNA 6000 Pico LabChip analysis kits). RNA samples with concentrations ≥5 ng/μl were quantitated spectroscopically by measuring their absorbance at 260 nm, and these concentrations were used to evaluate the quantitation accuracy of both systems.