RNA extraction from blood and liquid samples presents unique technical challenges due to sample complexity, low RNA abundance, and the presence of inhibitors or degradation factors. Different workflows are required depending on whether the target is leukocyte RNA, circulating RNA, or microRNA from cell-free body fluids.
Magen provides a structured portfolio of blood and liquid RNA extraction systems based on silica membrane, magnetic bead, and phenol-based chemistries. These systems support both manual and automated workflows and are optimized for different sample types including whole blood, stabilized blood samples, serum, plasma and other body fluids.
This guide is designed to help laboratories and distributors select appropriate RNA extraction solutions based on sample type, input format and downstream application requirements such as RT-PCR, gene expression analysis and microRNA profiling.
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If your sample or experiment requires |
Recommended Kit |
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Routine RNA extraction from fresh whole blood |
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Direct total RNA extraction from up to 5 mL fresh or frozen whole blood without a separate RBC lysis step |
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RNA extraction from PAXgene-stabilized whole blood |
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If your sample or experiment requires |
Recommended Kit |
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Routine automated RNA extraction from whole blood |
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Low-input automated total RNA extraction from whole blood, including recovery of microRNA |
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Automated RNA extraction from frozen whole blood or biobank blood samples using phenol–guanidine lysis |
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If your sample or experiment requires |
Recommended Kit |
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RNA and microRNA extraction from serum or plasma using phenol–guanidine lysis |
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Low-input phenol-free extraction of cell-free RNA, primarily microRNA, from serum or plasma |
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Large-input phenol-free extraction of cell-free DNA+RNA / RNA, including microRNA, from serum or plasma |
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Automated, high-throughput extraction of cell-free RNA, primarily microRNA, from serum or plasma |
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Product |
Technology |
RNA Type |
Sample Type |
Typical Input |
Key Strategy |
Best For |
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Spin column |
Total RNA |
Whole blood |
1–1.5 mL whole blood |
Red blood cell lysis followed by leukocyte RNA purification |
Routine blood RNA extraction for RT-PCR, qPCR and gene expression analysis |
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| HiPure Blood RNA Midi Kit B (R4164B) | MagZol + spin column | Total RNA | Fresh or frozen mammalian whole blood | 5 mL fresh blood / 3 mL frozen blood | Direct MagZol lysis followed by column purification and on-column DNase treatment, without separate RBC lysis | Large-volume blood RNA direct extraction and workflows requiring blood lysate storage before purification |
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Spin column |
Total RNA |
PAXgene-stabilized whole blood |
One 2.5 mL PAXgene Blood RNA Tube |
DNA removal column followed by silica membrane purification and DNase I treatment |
Gene expression analysis of stabilized blood samples for clinical transcriptomics and biomarker studies |
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Magnetic bead |
Total RNA |
Whole blood, buffy coat and bone marrow |
1–1.5 mL whole blood |
Red blood cell lysis followed by magnetic bead RNA purification and DNase treatment |
Automated blood RNA extraction for RT-PCR, NGS and viral RNA detection |
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Magnetic bead |
Total RNA, including miRNA |
Whole blood and buffy coat |
50 µL whole blood |
Magnetic bead purification optimized for low-input total RNA extraction, including miRNA recovery |
Low-input blood RNA profiling, including microRNA and small RNA analysis |
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MagZol + magnetic bead |
Total RNA |
Fresh or frozen whole blood, buffy coat and bone marrow |
1 mL whole blood |
Direct MagZol lysis without separate red blood cell lysis, followed by magnetic bead RNA purification |
Biobank samples, frozen blood processing and RNA analysis after sample storage or transport |
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MagZol + spin column |
Total RNA, including miRNA |
Serum, plasma and other body fluids |
250 µL serum or plasma |
Phenol–guanidine lysis followed by silica column purification |
Sensitive RNA and microRNA recovery from liquid samples for expression profiling |
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Spin column |
Cell-free total RNA, primarily miRNA |
Serum and plasma |
300–900 µL serum or plasma |
Selective protein precipitation followed by silica membrane RNA purification |
Rapid, phenol-free extraction of cell-free RNA, primarily miRNA, for RT-PCR, Northern blot and miRNA expression analysis |
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| HiPure Circulating DNA/RNA Kit (R4316) | Two-stage spin column | Cell-free DNA and RNA, including miRNA | Serum, plasma and other cell-free liquid samples | 1–5 mL | Large-volume nucleic acid capture followed by micro-column concentration | Co-recovery of circulating DNA, RNA and miRNA from large-volume liquid samples for qPCR, RT-PCR, hybridization and SNP detection |
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Magnetic bead |
Cell-free total RNA, primarily miRNA |
Serum and plasma |
300 µL serum or plasma |
Selective protein precipitation followed by magnetic bead RNA purification |
Automated, high-throughput extraction of cell-free RNA, primarily miRNA, for RT-PCR and miRNA expression analysis |
For detailed product specifications and workflow descriptions, please refer to individual product pages.
