The cell-free DNA (cfDNA) blood collection tube is a special medical device used for the collection and preservation of cell-free DNA in blood for the following applications:

Oncology
Early screening of tumour: Tumour cells will release DNA into the blood, by detecting cfDNA and analysing the gene mutation, methylation and other characteristics, abnormalities can be detected when the tumour is still in a small and asymptomatic stage, so as to achieve early screening. For example, detecting mutations in genes such as EGFR and KRAS can help detect malignant tumours such as lung cancer at an early stage.
Tumour efficacy monitoring: In the course of tumour treatment, regular collection of blood for cfDNA testing can reflect changes in tumour cells in real time. For example, during chemotherapy, by monitoring the content of tumour-specific markers in cfDNA, if its level decreases, it indicates that the treatment is effective and the tumour cells have been inhibited or killed; if the level increases, it may suggest tumour recurrence or drug resistance.
Tumour molecular typing: different types of tumours have different genetic characteristics, and comprehensive genetic testing of cfDNA can help doctors determine the molecular subtypes of tumours and provide the basis for formulating personalized treatment plans. For example, breast cancer can be classified into luminal A, luminal B, HER2 overexpression, and triple-negative breast cancer through the detection of relevant genes in cfDNA, and the treatment strategies for different subtypes are different.
Prenatal diagnosis
Fetal chromosome aneuploidy testing: Pregnant women’s blood contains cfDNA of fetal origin, which can be tested to screen fetuses for chromosomal aneuploidies such as trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards’ syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau’s syndrome). This test is non-invasive to the foetus and reduces the risk of miscarriage and other risks associated with invasive testing.
Fetal genetic disease detection: If both parents carry certain known disease-causing genes, prenatal diagnosis of hereditary diseases, such as thalassaemia and haemophilia, can be achieved by detecting fetal cfDNA in the blood of a pregnant woman to determine whether the fetus has inherited the disease-causing genes.
Organ Transplantation
Transplant rejection monitoring: after organ transplantation, the source of cfDNA in the recipient’s blood includes DNA released by the donor organ and DNA released by the recipient’s own cells, and transplant rejection can be detected in time by monitoring the changes in the proportion of donor-sourced DNA in cfDNA. Elevated levels of donor cfDNA may indicate rejection and require prompt adjustment of immunosuppressive therapy.
Graft damage assessment: analysing the fragment characteristics and gene expression of cfDNA can also assess the degree of damage and functional status of the graft, providing reference for clinical treatment.
Other fields
Diagnosis of infectious diseases: During the occurrence of infectious diseases, the DNA of pathogens may also appear in the blood as cfDNA, and the detection of cfDNA of these pathogens can help to quickly diagnose the type of infectious pathogens and guide the rational use of antibiotics and other drugs in the clinic. For example, in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, the detection of cfDNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the blood can assist in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Cardiovascular disease research: Studies have found that the level and characteristics of cfDNA in the blood of patients with cardiovascular disease also change. By analysing cfDNA, it can help to understand the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and find new diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets. For example, in patients with acute myocardial infarction, certain specific fragments of cfDNA may correlate with the degree of myocardial damage.