Method and device for collection and amplification of circulating nucleic acids

A method for processing a whole blood sample at a point of sample collection to collect circulating nucleic acid in plasma or serum, the method comprising:

• a) applying the whole blood sample directly on to a filtration membrane at the point of sample collection;
• b) separating, at the point of sample collection, the non-cellular fraction by filtering the whole blood sample through the filtration membrane in the absence of an anti-coagulant, wherein the intact cells in the whole blood are retained on the filtration membrane, and wherein the non-cellular fraction comprises plasma or serum;
• c) collecting the separated non-cellular fraction onto a dry solid matrix, wherein the dry solid matrix is configured to establish a direct contact with the filtration membrane, wherein the dry solid matrix comprises cellulose and wherein the dry solid matrix is devoid of any detergent lysis buffer;
• d) drying the collected non-cellular fraction on the solid matrix;
• and
• e) storing the dry solid matrix containing the collected circulating nucleic acids in the non-cellular fraction.