Comparative Metabolomics and Microbiome Analysis of Ethanol versus OMNImet/gene•GUT Fecal Stabilization
Isokääntä et al.
The finding, in our words
A study found that stool stabilised in 95% ethanol or OMNImet•GUT and OMNIgene•GUT kits maintained metabolome and microbiome profiles comparable to flash freezing for up to seven days at room temperature. Non-stabilised samples showed temperature-dependent changes in bile and short-chain fatty acids, supporting decentralised, patient-centric ambient collection.
A paraphrase to the Library’s standard, never the abstract. The source is one link away and is always the authority.
Comparison of six stool collection methods in healthy volunteers found OMNIgene Gut, FOBT cards, RNAlater and Microlution were reliable for metagenomics, whereas 95% ethanol best preserved metabolite profiles; the authors recommend using separate collection methods for different analytical aims in large population studies.
Microbiome profiles remained stable in OMNIgene GUT for 21 days at room temperature and metabolite abundance relationships were preserved, though absolute abundances varied slightly. This supports using a single stool collection procedure with OMNIgene GUT to obtain both microbiome and metabolome data for decentralised diagnostics.
FTA cards and OMNIgene GUT demonstrated strong concordance with immediate freezing for gut microbiome diversity and short-chain fatty acid measurements, while ethanol preserved the most metabolites overall. These stabilised collection methods enable reliable, decentralised stool sampling for large-scale microbiome and metabolomics studies.
A study limited by sample size found OMNIgene GUT tubes preserved Cryptosporidium DNA better than DNA Shield and FTA cards after year-long ambient storage. qPCR detected DNA in 23/24 OMNIgene, 21/24 DNA Shield, and 17/20 FTA samples, while metagenomics detected it in 13/24, 9/24, and 0/24 samples respectively, guiding decentralised sampling choices.
Taxonomic and diversity profiles differed between unstabilised swabs and stabilised OmniGene kits, with transport time disproportionately affecting swab samples; the collection method had a greater impact on taxa and diversity than transport time, highlighting the need for standardised stool collection in decentralised microbiome studies.