New Assay Offers Sensitive, Rapid, Noninvasive Classification of Gliomas

· Robust isolation protocol allows for analysis of extracellular vesicle RNA from blood samples.

· In adults, the most common type of abnormal growth in the central nervous system is glioma.

· In this study, scientists developed a blood-based assay from which they analyzed extracellular vesicle RNA found in just 2 mL of plasma. The assay incorporates droplet digital PCR for detection of the IDH1.R132H mutation. Using EV RNA instead of DNA as a target allowed the assay to achieve sensitivity of 75% and specificity of nearly 89%. The entire workflow takes less than four hours from the time a sample is collected.