This document gives guidelines on the handling, storage, processing and documentation of venous 
whole blood specimens intended for cellular RNA examination during the pre-examination phase 
before a molecular examination is performed. This document covers specimens collected in venous 
whole blood collection tubes.
This document is applicable to any molecular in vitro diagnostic examination performed by medical 
laboratories. It is also intended to be used by laboratory customers, in vitro diagnostics developers and 
manufacturers, biobanks, institutions and commercial organizations performing biomedical research, 
and regulatory authorities.
Different dedicated measures are taken for stabilizing blood cell free circulating RNA and RNA in 
exosomes circulating in blood. These are not described in this document.
Different dedicated measures are taken for collecting, stabilizing, transporting and storing capillary 
blood as well as for collecting and storing blood by paper based technologies or other technologies 
generating dried blood. These are not described in this document.
This document does not cover the isolation of specific blood cells and subsequent isolation of cellular 
RNA therefrom.
RNA in pathogens present in blood is not covered by this document.st edition 2019-02 Molecular in vitro diagnostic examinations？—？Specifications？for？ pre-examination？processes？for？venous？ whole blood — Part 1: Isolated cellular RNA Analyses de diagnostic moléculaire in vitro — Spécifications relatives aux processus préanalytiques pour le sang total veineux — Partie 1: ARN cellulaire extrait Reference number ISO 20186-1:2019(E) ？ ISO 2019 ISO 20186-1:2019