What is cell-free miRNA and is that what OncuraKit measures?

Cell-free miRNA (cf-miRNA) refers to miRNA found circulating in body fluids outside of cells — in blood plasma, serum, or urine — as opposed to intracellular miRNA measured from biopsied tissue. OncuraKit measures extracellular, cell-free miRNA from urine. This is significant because cf-miRNA in urine represents a real-time snapshot of miRNA being shed from cells throughout the body, including from tumor cells, into the circulation and subsequently filtered into urine. Cell-free miRNA is protected from RNase degradation by its packaging in exosomes, microvesicles, and protein complexes, which is why it remains stable in urine and during shipping.