Mayo Fecal Stability Study II

Currently used methods can preserve the integrity and reproducibility of gut microbiome studies studies (16S rDNA, metagenomics, and metabolomics) while prolonging the time from sample collection and freezing. Goal: To test multiple fixatives (RNA Later, ethanol, EDTA), freezing time points (day 0, 1, and 4), and methods of collection (scoops, swabs, and fecal occult blood cards), against the gold standard of fecal samples frozen immediately and without fixatives. Aim 1: To test each collection method for within group reproducibility Aim 2: To test each collection method for quantitative reproducibility against a gold standard of snap frozen non-preserved sample.