Image
Colorectal Cancer Detection
Built for Challenging Stool Samples. Validated for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Research.
Scientifically Validated Stool RNA Purification for CRC Screening and Research
Order NowWhy Stool-Based CRC Testing Matters
Stool-derived RNA biomarkers provide a promising non-invasive approach for early colorectal cancer detection. Because stool samples are in direct contact with the colonic epithelium, they contain exfoliated cells and molecular biomarkers reflective of colorectal disease status.
- Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide
- Early detection dramatically improves survival
- Stool testing offers a non-invasive and patient-friendly detection method over invasive tests like colonoscopy
- RNA biomarkers are emerging as powerful next-generation CRC indicators
Special Promo Free Shipping
Purchase any stool products listed on this page, and receive free shipping on your order.
Offer valid for a limited time only until August 1st. Discount applies when purchasing any eligible Stool kit. Cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. This offer is only eligible for North America. Contact Norgen Biotek for complete offer details and product availability.
The Challenges of Stool-Based Detection
Stool is a notoriusly difficult sample to work with.
-
Microbiota profiles change over time in non-preserved samples
-
RNA is unstable
-
Human RNA abundance is low
-
PCR inhibitors are common
-
Stool RNA extraction quality directly determines downstream assay performance
Norgen's Solution
A complete, optimized stool workflow from start to finish.
Improves Sample Handling
The Challenge
Stool is an unpleasant sample. Stool is infectious, odorous, and provides a generally unpleasant collection process for the donor.
The Solution
Norgen Biotek provides a simple collection process that reduces stool sample odor and renders stool samples safe and non-infectious. Our stool collection tubes accept up to 2g of input material, feature a flat bottom for self-standing, and a no-mess scooping spoon that is integrated into the screw cap.
Stabilizes Micriobiota Profile
The Challenge
Stool experiences a gradual microbiota profile shift over time, away from the fresh baseline, in non-preserverd samples. This degradation will lead to inaccurate CRC stool biomarker analysis.
The Solution
Norgen Biotek has the best fecal microbiota stabilization performance among tested competitors. Our stool nucleic acid collection and preservation products accurately preserved the stool microbiota profile closest to the baseline (immediately frozen sample stored with no additive) at the point of collection.
Figure 1. Norgen's Best-In-Class Preservation.
Summary of community shifts in response to stabilizing solutions over a 14-day storage period. Bray-Curtis distance towards the reference for each patient grouped by stabilizing solution. Median and 5th-to-95th percentile ranges are shown for both interaliquot and interpatient variability (adapted from Plauzolles et al, 2022). Norgen is the most similar to frozen stool samples, over 11 other sample collection and storage methods.
Figure 3. Monitoring the DNA stability of Adenovirus (Ad5subE1) Spiked into Preserved Stool Samples using TaqMan Real-Time PCR Assay.
Preserved stool samples were spiked with 6 x 109 pfu/mL of Adenovirus, and 200 µL samples were removed at the indicated time points. The stool DNA was then isolated using Norgen's Stool DNA Isolation Kit (Cat# 27600). Next, 2 µL of DNA template from each 50 µL of elution was used in a 20 µL PCR reaction to detect the Adenovirus DNA. The stool preservative was shown to stabilize Adenovirus DNA up to 21 weeks at ambient temperature, indicating that Norgen's Stool Nucleic Acid Collection and Preservation Tubes provide a safe and convenient sample transportation system.
Figure 5. Difference In Top 5 Abundant Microorganisms at Phylum Level Compared to Fresh Stool (Day 0).
Abundance of Firmicuties, Bacteroidetes and proteobacteria from the preserved stool sample was higher than non-preserved (NP) to the fresh stool after 2 days storage at RT, indicating that the originality of microorganism profile from the preserved are much closer to the fresh stool sample (Day 0).
Figure 6. Relative Abundance of Bacterial Genera Between Preserved And Non-preserved Stool Sample Stored at RT For 2 Days.
Preserved stool sample using Norgen’s Stool Nucleic Acid Collection and Preservation Tubes (Cat. 45630, 45660) showed closed relativeness to the fresh stool sample (Day 0).
Figure 7. Correlation between duplicate bacterial metagenomic reads.
Correlation between duplicate bacterial metagenomic reads using (A) Fresh stool (day 0) and preserved stool at RT for 2 days and (B) Fresh stool (day 0) and non-preserved stool at RT for 2 days. A greater R2 was observed for Fresh stool (day 0) and preserved stool, suggestive of higher consistency between fresh stool sample and preserved stool sample
Long-Term, Ambient Preservation
The Challenge
Cold-chain transport and storage logistics add uneccessary costs and a negative environmental impact.
The Solution
All of our nucleic acid fecal collection and preservation products use ambient-temperature preservation for room-temperature shipping and storage. DNA is stable for up to 2 years, and RNA for 7 days, allowing you ample time to organize and carry-out testing. So much time, that you can store some material as a backup in case of analysis error — no need for recollection or additional headaches.
Figure 2. Integrity of Total Stool DNA and RNA Isolated from Preserved Stool Samples.
DNA and RNA were isolated from 200 µL of preserved stool from 4 different donors (lanes A to D) stored at room temperature at the indicated time points (DNA at 27 months and RNA at 7 days) using Norgen's Stool Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit (Cat# 45600). Next, 10 µL from the 75 µL eluted nucleic acid was loaded onto a gel for visual analysis. High integrity stool DNA was isolated from preserved stool samples that were stored at room temperature for 27 months, and high integrity RNA was isolated from stool samples stored for 7 days at ambient temperature. Lane M is Norgen's HighRanger 1 kb DNA Ladder (Cat. 11900).
Figure 3. Stool DNA is Stable over a Wide Range of Temperatures.
Stool was collected from a healthy donor using Norgen's Stool Nucleic Acid Collection and Preservation Tubes. Samples were then incubated at ambient temperature (Fig. 3A) and 50°C (Fig. 3B) respectively. Next, 200 µL of the preserved and non-preserved stool was taken at day 1, 2, 4 and 7, and DNA was isolated using Norgen's Stool DNA Isolation Kit (Cat.# 27600). Lastly, 2 µL of elution was used in 20 µL of the real-time PCR reaction (SYBR Green I) using CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR Detection System (Bio-Rad). The preserved stool generated lower Ct values when compared to the non-preserved stool at the various time points tested, indicating the high quality of the preserved DNA.
Figure 4. Stability of Human and Bacterial Genes over a 7 Day Period.
Human (GAPDH), Gram-negative (16S rDNA) and two gastrointestinal Gram-positive bacterial genes were monitored from stool samples stored at ambient temperature with and without Norgen's stool preservative. DNA was isolated from 200 µL of preserved, non-preserved, and fresh stool samples on day 1, day 2, day 4 and day 7 using Norgen's Stool DNA Isolation Kit (Cat.# 27600). Next, 2 µL of elution was used in 20 µL of the real-time PCR reaction (SYBR Green I) using CFX96 Touch Real-Time PCR Detection System (Bio-Rad). All of the genes were shown to be preserved and stable over 7 days.
Eliminates PCR Inihbitors
The Challenge
10% formalin is among one of the most popuplar preservatives. However, it often results in PCR inhibition, especially after extended fixation time. Combined with naturally-ocurring PCR inhibitors found in stool, such as humic acid, this creates significant challenges for downstream applications.
The Solution
Our stool extraction kits are designed for molecular stool tests. Inhibitors like humic acid and chemical fixatives are elimated at the purification stage, providing clean RNA and DNA for analysis, including stool RT-PCR amplification.
Figure 3. Detection of 16S rRNA from stool DNA isolated from 200 mg of fresh stool samples using Norgen's Stool DNA Isolation Kit and Competitor Q’s kit.
DNA quality was confirmed by Real-time PCR using 2 µL of stool DNA (total PCR reaction volume was 20 µL) to detect 16S rRNA from different microorganisms in the stool samples. The earlier Ct value with Norgen's DNA samples (blue lines) compared to Competitor Q’s samples (red lines) indicated a higher quality of stool DNA for downstream applications. Figure 3A: Fresh stool sample, Figure 3B: Preserved stool using Norgen’s Stool Nucleic Acid Collection and Preservation Tubes (Cat. 45660).
Figure 4. Detection of 5S rRNA from the Stool DNA isolated from 200 mg of fresh stool samples using Norgen's Stool DNA Isolation Kit and Competitor Q’s Kit.
DNA quality was confirmed by Real-time PCR using 2 µL of stool DNA (total PCR reaction volume was 20 µL) to detect 5S rRNA from eukaryotic DNA in the stool samples. The earlier Ct value with Norgen's DNA samples (blue lines) compared to Competitor Q’s samples (red lines) indicated a higher quality of stool DNA for downstream applications. Figure A: Fresh stool sample, Figure B: Preserved stool using Norgen’s Stool Nucleic Acid Collection and Preservation Tubes (Cat. 45660).
Figure 9. High Quality DNA confirmed by Real-time PCR.
DNA was isolated from 200 mg stool using Norgen's Stool DNA Isolation Kit (Magnetic Bead System) and Norgen's Stool DNA Isolation Kit (column format). The quality of the purified DNA was evaluated by using 8 μL of stool DNA (total PCR reaction volume was 20 µL) to detect 16S rRNA from the different stool samples. No PCR inhibition was observed from DNA isolated using Norgen's Stool DNA Isolation Kit (Magnetic Bead System) (blue circles), similar to the DNA isolated using Norgen’s Stool DNA Isolation Kit (Column method) (red circles), indicating the excellent isolation consistency and the quality of the stool DNA for downstream applications.
Figure 3. Quality of Mouse Fecal DNA was Evaluated by 16s rDNA Amplification using Real-Time PCR.
Two mouse fecal samples (red and blue) were collected and preserved using Norgen’s Fecal DNA Collection and Preservation Mini Tubes, and then 3 µL of DNA was used in 20 µL PCR reaction to detect 16s rDNA. No PCR inhibition was observed, indicating the high quality of DNA from mouse fecal samples for use in downstream applications.
High RNA/DNA Purity
The Challenge
Nucleic acids are fragmented in stool which presents challenges in capturing complete data, potentially causing bias in the interpretation. Despite emerging research showing that stool-derived eukaryotic RNA is a promising biomarker for CRC detection, few studies exist on mRNA detection, possibly due to mRNA's instability and the challenging stool environment, which is rich in microbes and bacterial transcripts.
The Solution
Capturing unstable fecal RNA profiles requires excellent isolation and purification technology. Norgen Biotek provides best-in-class, inhibitor-free RNA preservation with complete fecal RNA/DNA diversity: from small RNA and fragmented DNA to total RNA/DNA including mRNA. Collect unbiased insights into fecal transcriptomics, unlocking the full potential of mRNA and small RNA biomarkers.
- No need for phenol
- No bias towards high molecular weight
- No bias towards high GC content
- No need for carrier RNA
- No loss of RNA diversity
Figure 1. Higher Yields of DNA than Competitor Q.
Stool DNA was isolated from 200 mg of fresh or preserved stool samples using Norgen’s Stool DNA Isolation Kit and Competitor Q's Kit. For evaluation, 10 µL of DNA from the elution was run on 1X TAE 1.2% agarose gel. Norgen's kit isolated much higher yields of DNA. *Stool was collected using Norgen’s Stool Nucleic Acid Collection and Preservation tubes (Cat. 45660). Marker = Norgen’s HighRanger DNA Ladder (Cat. 11900).
Figure 2. Stool DNA quality and concentration measured by NanoDrop.
High DNA concentration and quality was obtained using Norgen’s Stool DNA Isolation Kit from fresh or preserved stool samples. Figure 2A: Fresh stool samples, Figure 2B: Preserved stool using Norgen’s Stool Nucleic Acid Collection and Preservation Tubes (Cat. 45660).
Figure 7. High Quality DNA Isolated from Preserved Stool Samples.
DNA was isolated from 200 µL preserved stool samples using Norgen’s Stool DNA Isolation Kit (Magnetic Bead System).For evaluation, 10 µL from 75 µL of elution were run on 1X TAE 1.2% agarose gel. Stool samples were preserved in Norgen’s Stool Nucleic Acid Collection and Transport Tubes (Cat. 45630, 45660). M = Norgen’s HighRanger DNA Ladder (Cat. 11900).
Figure 11. High Quality DNA Isolated from Preserved Stool Samples.
DNA was isolated from 200 µL preserved stool samples using Norgen’s Stool DNA Isolation 96-Well Kit (Magnetic Bead System). For evaluation, 10 µL from 75 µL of elution were run on 1X TAE 1.2% agarose gel. M = Norgen’s HighRanger DNA Ladder (Cat. 11900).
Figure 1. High yields of stool total RNA were purified from 200 mg of human stool using Norgen's Stool RNA Purification Kit and a leading competitor's kit, in triplicate.
For analysis, 7.5 µL of each 75 µL elution was loaded on a 1.2 % 1x MOPS formaldehyde-agarose gel. Norgen's kit was found to have a higher yield of RNA, isolated from 200 mg of human infant stool.
Figure 2. Yield and Quality of Purified Stool RNA.
Total RNA was isolated from 200 mg of human stool using Norgen's Stool RNA Purification Kit and a leading competitor kit. Comparisons were then made based on yield, and A260:A280/A260:A230 ratios measured using the NanoVue Plus™. In Panel A it can be seen that both kits isolated RNA with high A260:A280 ratios (all samples were found to be above 1.8 and below 2.2). In Panel B, Norgen's kit was found to isolate RNA with a high A260:A230 (with all samples once again falling in the 1.8-2.2 range). The competitor kit, however, was found to isolate RNA with extremely low A260:A230 ratios, with none of the samples displaying a A260:A230 ratio higher than 0.20. The results in Panel C are in agreement with the gel photo from Figure 1, and Norgen's kit was found to isolate higher amounts of RNA, with an average yield of 14.58 µg, compared to the competitor’s average of 12.26 µg.
Figure 3. Detection of Bacterial Stool RNA using 16S Primers.
Total stool RNA was isolated from 200 mg human stool samples using Norgen's Stool RNA Purification Kit and a leading competitor’s kit. Five microliters of purified RNA was used in a 20 µL reverse-transcription reaction using Invitrogen's Superscript III system with 16S reverse primers. The cDNA generated was then used in a qPCR reaction involving Norgen's 2X PCR Mastermix spiked with SYBR green (Bio-Rad), using 0.3µM of primers against bacterial 16S. As can be seen in the amplification plot, Norgen's kit outperformed the leading competitor's kit by on average 1.5 Ct values. This indicates that Norgen isolated higher quality and yields of RNA from stool, that can be used in an array of downstream applications.
Peer-Reviewed Validation of Stool RNA Extraction for CRC Biomarker Detection
A recent peer-reviewed study published in Scientific Reports evaluated multiple stool RNA extraction methods for the detection of colorectal cancer-associated mRNA biomarkers from stool samples.
Reference:
Omran et al. Scientific Reports (2024) “Selection of optimal extraction and RT-PCR protocols for stool RNA detection of colorectal cancer associated immune genes”
CRC Biomarkers Evaluated
-
IL1B
-
IL6
-
IL8
-
PTGS2
-
SPP1
Key Findings
- Stool RNA quality and extraction method significantly impacted biomarker detection sensitivity
- The Norgen Stool Total RNA Purification Kit demonstrated strong performance for human stool mRNA recovery
- The workflow enabled sensitive detection of colorectal cancer-associated inflammatory biomarkers from stool
- Consistent RT-PCR amplification was achieved across challenging stool samples
- The study highlighted the importance of effective inhibitor removal and RNA preservation for downstream molecular analysis
Featured Figures
Figure 1. RNA purity ratio comparison across extraction methods.
(A) RNA purity ratio (A260/A280). The Norgen extraction method exhibited the highest RNA purity, significantly surpassing both Qiagen and BioMĂ©rieux (p value<0.001 for both comparisons). (B) RNA purity ratio (A260/A230). Similarly, the Norgen method achieved the highest RNA purity compared to Qiagen and BioMĂ©rieux, with significant differences (p value<0.001 for both comparisons). The Friedman p-value<0.001 confirms the significant variation in RNA purity across the extraction methods. Adapted from Omran et al., Scientific Reports (2024)
Figure 2. RNA concentration comparison across extraction methods.
(A) Qubit measurements showed significant differences in RNA concentrations between the methods. Norgen yielded significantly higher RNA concentrations compared to Qiagen (p=0.003). RNA concentrations differed significantly also between BioMĂ©rieux and Qiagen (p=0.023). (B) Nanodrop measurement shows that the Norgen method yielded higher RNA concentrations compared to Qiagen (p=0.006) and BioMĂ©rieux (p<0.001). The Friedman p-values for both methods indicated overall significant differences across the extraction methods (Qubit p-value<0.001; Nanodrop p-value<0.001). Adapted from Omran et al., Scientific Reports (2024)
Conclusion
The study identified the combination of the Norgen Stool Total RNA Purification Kit and RT-PCR workflow as a robust approach for stool-based mRNA biomarker detection in colorectal cancer research applications.
Order NowProducts
Collection and Preservation
Filter:
Sample Available
SKU 45660 | 50 Tubes
USD$757.00
A rapid and simple method for the collection, preservation and room temperature shipping of stool samples.
Image
SKU 27650 | 12 Tubes
USD$123.00
A rapid and simple method for the preservation of DNA from fresh fecal samples
Image
SKU Dx45660 | 50 Devices
USD$833.00
For the collection and preservation of stool samples at ambient temperatures
Image
Sample Available
SKU 63700 | 50 Devices
USD$1,107.00
All-in-one system for the rapid and simple collection, preservation, and room temperature storage and shipping of stool samples.
Image
Sample Available
SKU 45670-B | 50 Units
USD$359.00
A rapid and simple method for the collection, preservation and shipping of stool samples
Nucleic Acid Purification and Isolation
Filter:
Image
Best Seller
SKU 27600 | Spin Column | 50 Preps
USD$294.00
For the rapid and simple purification of microbial and host DNA from stool and fecal samples.
Image
SKU Dx27600 | Spin Column | 50 Preps
USD$308.00
For the rapid and simple purification of bacterial and host DNA from stool and fecal samples for in vitro diagnostic use
Image
SKU Dx49500 | Spin Column | 50 Preps
USD$514.00
A convenient and rapid method to purify total RNA from small amounts of stool samples for in vitro diagnostic use
Image
Sample Available
SKU 49500 | Spin Column | 50 Preps
USD$493.00
A convenient and rapid method to purify total RNA from small amounts of stool samples.
Image
SKU 45600 | Spin Column | 50 Preps
USD$782.00
A convenient and rapid method to isolate total DNA and RNA from fresh, frozen and preserved stool samples.
Image
SKU 55700 | Magnetic Bead System | 50 Preps
USD$170.00
For the rapid and simple purification of microbial and host DNA from stool and fecal samples.
Image
SKU 63100 | High Throughput Magnetic Bead System | 2 x 96-Well Plates
USD$689.00
For the rapid and simple purification of microbial and host DNA from stool and fecal samples.
Image
SKU 65600 | High Throughput | 2 x 96-Well Plates
USD$1,025.00
For the rapid and simple purification of microbial and host DNA from stool and fecal samples.
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Services
Beyond Colorectal Cancer: Expanding the Frontiers of Fecal Analytics
While optimizing workflows for colorectal cancer screening and researchc is a clinical priority, the ability to isolate pristine, inhibitor-free nucleic acids opens doors to an entire universe of molecular biology. Human stool is a dynamically rich, non-invasive liquid biopsy of the gastrointestinal tract and systemic immune status.
By preserving the true biological baseline of both host and microbial genetic material, Norgen Biotek's workflow powers breakthrough research across several expanding disciplines:
| Cross-Disciplinary Applications | |
|---|---|
| Inflammatory Bowel Disease | Monitoring mucosal healing and flare-ups via longitudinal transcriptomics. |
| Immuno-Oncology | Tracking gut-immune axis responses to checkpoint inhibitor therapies. |
| Microbiome-Host Interfaces | Uncoupling host cellular signaling from dense microbial backgrounds. |
GI Disease Biomarker Discovery
Characterizing chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's, and ulcerative colitis requires a deep dive into active cellular mechanisms. Reliable stool RNA extraction allows researchers to map out inflammatory cytokine profiles (such as IL1B, IL6, and IL8) over time, shifting the paradigm from reactive symptom management to proactive, targeted care.
Microbiome-Host Interaction Studies
The gut microbiome does not operate in a vacuum; it constantly communicates with human epithelial and immune cells. High-fidelity fecal transcriptomics isolates both bacterial transcripts and low-abundance host mRNA simultaneously. This dual-capture capability allows researchers to observe real-time metabolic communication and structural changes along the gut wall without sample bias.
Immuno-Oncology & Systemic Insights
The gut microbiome influences how a patient responds to cancer immunotherapies. By leveraging stool as a localized liquid biopsy, researchers can identify specific microbial signatures and host immune expressions that correlate with positive responses to checkpoint inhibitors, fundamentally changing the layout of personalized cancer care.
The Next Generation of Transcriptomics
The future of non-invasive diagnostics relies on capturing the entire spectrum of RNA—from long mRNAs to small RNAs. Norgen's proprietary resin separation matrix ensure that your discovery pipeline is backed by complete, unaltered diversity. Whether you are running multiplexed stool RT-PCR or Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), the journey to reliable GI disease biomarker discovery begins with an uncompromised sample.
Ready to Transform Your Workflow?
Discover how Norgen's solutions can help you operate more efficiently and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving scientific landscape.
-
Phone
1-866-667-4362
-
Email
info@norgenbiotek.com
-
Live Chat
Available weekdays 9AM-5PM EST