Many factors have an influence on nucleic acid quality, such as sample source, handling, extraction method and storage condition. The responsibility of the Biobanks to collect, store and ship samples makes it essential to determine sample quality at the point of receipt and release. Sample quality includes concentration and integrity which are both important parameters to ensure that nucleic acid samples are fit for purpose. Nucleic acid quality can be assessed using conventional gel or automated electrophoresis systems. 
The DNA Integrity Number (DIN) has been established for genomic DNA (gDNA) qualification with automated electrophoresis systems. It provides an assessment of gDNA sample quality by assigning a numerical score from 1 to 10. A high DIN indicates intact gDNA, and a low DIN degraded gDNA. The DIN enables comparison of samples and allows defining a DIN quality threshold for specific types of samples or preparation. This poster shows examples of DNA sample patterns and correlating DIN across a wide quality range for DNA originating from blood, fresh frozen tissue and formalin‑fixed paraffin‑embedded (FFPE) material.
The RNA integrity number equivalent (RINe) delivers an objective assessment of total RNA degradation for samples from eukaryotic or prokaryotic origin. The RIN is independent of sample concentration and analyst and allows unbiased confirmation of RNA sample quality. RNA samples extracted from FFPE tissue are typically highly degraded. Many tailored FFPE RNA library protocols use an additional quality metric DV200 to define the optimal RNA input amount for successful NGS library preparation. The DV200 represents the percentage of RNA fragments above 200 nucleotides. This poster exhibits sample patterns and corresponding quality scores of intact and degraded RNA including FFPE RNA samples.


Standardized DNA and RNA Sample Quality Control