Frequently Asked Questions
- Why use saliva samples?
- Why use coded labels?
- Why use Whole Genome Amplification?
- How can you access the samples?
- What information is available to researchers?
1. Why use saliva samples?
- Collection of saliva samples is less invasive than collecting blood samples, which require clinical staff to administer.
- New technology from Oragene™ allows samples to remain at room temperature for long periods of time.
- Purification kits from Oragene™ provides a good yield of DNA (100 µg) and is easy to extract.
- A children's saliva kit has been developed to simplify the collection of saliva from children aged less than four years.
2. Why use coded labels?
- To ensure the basic medical information provided with each sample cannot be traced back to an individual maintaining confidentiality.
- To ensure any family can withdraw from The Repository in the future.
3. Why use Whole Genome Amplification?
This technology allows us to create enough DNA from single saliva samples to ensure a supply for researchers around Australia to utilise to try to find genes that cause diabetes.
4. How can you access the samples?
The Access Policy is used to access the ACDDR samples.
5. What information is available to researchers?
The final outcomes variables required for The Repository include:
- Proband's date of birth;
- Proband's date of diagnosis;
- Proband's age at diagnosis;
- Gender of the proband; and
- Whether the proband or either biological parent has a history of the following autoimmune diseases: T1D or T2D; autoimmune thyroid; or coeliac disease.
