I’m looking to implement new genomic testing methods, such as liquid biopsy and CRISPR-based technologies, to my lab workflow. How should I prep for these?

Implementing liquid biopsy and CRISPR in your lab is a good move, here are my two cents on how to get it right from the start. First, for liquid biopsy, it’s all about getting your sample collection and preservation protocols locked down. You’ll want to choose the right blood preservation tubes—EDTA, PAX, or Streck—since they’ll keep your cfDNA and cfRNA stable, avoiding contamination and giving you high-quality data for accurate results. Once you’ve nailed that, co-isolating cfDNA and cfRNA is a smart move because it gives you a multi-layered view of the genetic material. You need this to track specific biomarkers or gene fusions related to cancer.

Now, when it comes to CRISPR, it’s all about precision. CRISPR uses a guide RNA to direct the Cas9 enzyme to a specific location in the DNA to make cuts—either knocking out genes or inserting new sequences. But to avoid errors or off-target effects, you need clean, well-processed samples. Good luck with this mate!