Table 4 Summary of Methods performance

Method 1 – Affymetrix one-cycle target labeling of

Lowest sensitivity

whole blood RNA (no depletion_Affymetrix)

Good reproducibility

Good target integrity

Method 2 – Affymetrix one-cycle target labeling of

High sensitivity

whole blood RNA with globin PNAs during cDNA

High reproducibility

synthesis (Globin PNAs_Affymetrix)

Good target integrity

Method 3 – Affymetrix one-cycle labeling of whole

High sensitivity

blood RNA treated with Ambion GLOBINclear

Lowest reproducibility

(GLOBINclear_Affymetrix)

Marginal target integrity

Method 4 – NuGEN Ovation v1 amplification and

Moderate sensitivity

labeling of whole blood RNA (no depletion_NuGEN)

High reproducibility

Good target integrity