Evaluation and verification of cfDNA extraction methods

Evaluation and verification of cfDNA extraction methods BackgroundCirculating cell-free dNa (cfdNa) is a promising source of biomarkers for liquid biopsies, yet its low abundance and fragmented nature challenge downstream applications, such as droplet digital PCr (ddPCr) and next-generation sequencing (NGS).While pre-analytical factors (e.g., sampling, collection tubes, sample transport, and storage) influence cfdNa quantity and quality, this Editorial focuses on extraction as a key determinant of yield and fragment recovery.Choosing the most suitable extraction method to maximize cfdNa yield and recover all fragment sizes is important.cfdNa extraction is mainly done either with silica-based membranes or magnetic particles.Many commercial kits are available for both manual and automated extraction.the implementation of a new kit should always be verified.Similarly, after a change in sample material (e.g., ascites, pleural effusion, urine), the performance of the kit should always be verified.the cfdNa recovery efficiency, size distribution, reproducibility, laboratory capacity, and sample turnover are important factors to consider.