Abstract: The present disclosure provides kits, methods, and assays for detecting one or more mutations associated with hereditary or syndromic hearing loss. The method can comprise performing a multigene panel sequencing assay on a biological sample extracted from a subject to identify one or more mutations associated with hearing loss. The disclosed kits, methods, and assays may be particularly useful for determining whether an infant patient is a carrier for or is at risk for developing a hereditary hearing loss-related disorder such as Usher syndrome, Pendred syndrome, Jervell syndrome, and Lange-Nielsen syndrome.

Abstract: A screening method for the identification of a characteristic of a target nucleic acid in a whole blood sample, including positioning a composition comprising whole blood and at least one preservative agent within a centrifuge, centrifugating the composition to isolate a plasma that includes at least one target nucleic acid for further analysis and analyzing the at least one target nucleic acid to identify a characteristic about the at least one target nucleic acid, and a composition including the plasma, the preservative agent, and any other ingredient, which is produced by the method.

Abstract: A composition and method for preserving a urine sample and a preservative delivery vessel are disclosed wherein treatment of the urine sample aids in preserving circulating cell-free nucleic acids in urine over a wide range of dilution ratios within temperature fluctuations that can occur during urine sample handling, storage and transportation. The urine sample preservation composition and method and preservative delivery vessel provide a method for obtaining high quality stabilized urinary cell-free nucleic acids for clinical diagnostics development and application.

Abstract: A composition and method for preserving a urine sample and a preservative delivery vessel are disclosed wherein treatment of the urine sample aids in preserving circulating cell-free nucleic acids in urine over a wide range of dilution ratios within temperature fluctuations that can occur during urine sample handling, storage and transportation. The urine sample preservation composition and method and preservative delivery vessel provide a method for obtaining high quality stabilized urinary cell-free nucleic acids for clinical diagnostics development and application.

Abstract: A screening method for the identification of a characteristic of a target nucleic acid in a whole blood sample, including positioning a composition comprising whole blood and at least one preservative agent within a centrifuge, centrifugating the composition to isolate a plasma that includes at least one target nucleic acid for further analysis and analyzing the at least one target nucleic acid to identify a characteristic about the at least one target nucleic acid, and a composition including the plasma, the preservative agent, and any other ingredient, which is produced by the method.

Abstract: A screening method for the identification of a characteristic of a target nucleic acid in a whole blood sample, including positioning a composition comprising whole blood and at least one preservative agent within a centrifuge, centrifugating the composition to isolate a plasma that includes at least one target nucleic acid for further analysis and analyzing the at least one target nucleic acid to identify a characteristic about the at least one target nucleic acid, and a composition including the plasma, the preservative agent, and any other ingredient, which is produced by the method.

Abstract: A composition and method for preserving a urine sample and a preservative delivery vessel are disclosed wherein treatment of the urine sample aids in preserving circulating cell-free nucleic acids in urine over a wide range of dilution ratios within temperature fluctuations that can occur during urine sample handling, storage and transportation. The urine sample preservation composition and method and preservative delivery vessel provide a method for obtaining high quality stabilized urinary cell-free nucleic acids for clinical diagnostics development and application.

Abstract: A method for preserving and protecting cell-free nucleic acids located within blood plasma samples is disclosed, wherein a sample of blood containing nucleic acids is treated to reduce deleterious effects of storage and transport.