Tenfold difference in DNA recovery rate: systematic comparison of whole blood vs. dried blood spot sample collection for malaria molecular surveillance

Table 3 Limit of detection of different DNA extraction methods determined by varATS qPCR

DNA isolation method	Sample input	LOD (parasites/μL blood [CI₉₅])	LOD fold difference*
NucleoMag Blood 200 μL Kit
	50 μL whole blood	0.29 [0.14–2.30]	–
	50 μL DBS	0.92 [0.42–5.84]	3.17
	50 μL DBS (short)	1.62 [0.74–10.56]	5.59
	5 × 3 mm punches DBS	2.24 [1.13–25.90]	7.72
QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit
	50 μL whole blood	0.56 [0.27–3.66]	–
	50 μL DBS	1.23 [0.62–5.94]	2.20
	5 × 3 mm punches DBS	2.01 [not defined]^#	3.59
Tween-Chelex
	50 μL DBS	0.18 [0.09–1.29]	–
	5 × 3 mm punches DBS	0.66 [0.31–4.14]	3.67
Direct PCR
	15 μL whole blood	0.12 [0.06–1.57]	–
	5 × 3 mm punches DBS	0.22 [0.12–2.42]	1.83

^*Difference of lowest LOD to others per method (i.e., NucleoMag 50 μL whole blood was 3.17 × more sensitive compared to 50 μL DBS)
^#Calculation of CI₉₅ not possible due to steep slope of the regression line

ISSN: 1475-2875