Evaluation of high throughput gene expression platforms using a genomic biomarker signature for prediction of skin sensitization

Table 4 Comparison of platforms

Platform	Affymetrix®	nCounter®	BioMark HD™	OpenArray®
Technology	Microarray	Hybridization	RT-qPCR	RT-qPCR
Input material	cDNA	Total RNA	Pre-Amp cDNA	cDNA
Sample consumption	300 ng total RNA/sample	200 ng total RNA/sample	125 ng cDNA/sample	120 ng cDNA/sample
Time for analysis	~4 days from RNA to results	22 h from RNA to results with a hands on time of 15 minutes.	7 h from cDNA to results with a hands on time of ~ 4 h	3 h from cDNA to results with a hands on time of 20 minutes.
Protocols	Difficult	Easy	Medium	Easy
Price^a	$$$$	$$$	$	$$

Comparison are based on the 48 samples analyzed in the present study. ^a Platforms were graded based on total cost to analyze the complete set of 48 samples. The number of $ denotes the relation in costs between the platforms, with the highest number assigned to the most expensive platform.

ISSN: 1471-2164