Ipswich, Massachusetts – August 4, 2026
New England Biolabs (NEB®) has expanded its molecular biology portfolio with the launch of the Monarch® Mag Cell-free RNA (cfRNA) Extraction Kit, a new research solution designed to isolate low-abundance circulating cell-free RNA (cfRNA) and exome-associated RNA from biofluids including plasma, serum, urine and cerebrospinal fluid. The phenol-free magnetic bead workflow incorporates DNase treatment to reduce DNA contamination and improve recovery of cfRNA for downstream sequencing and amplification applications. The new kit complements NEB’s existing Monarch Mag Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) Extraction Kit and sequencing technologies, creating a broader sample-to-result workflow for researchers investigating cell-free nucleic acids. As interest in liquid biopsy, biomarker discovery and precision medicine continues to expand, reliable isolation of cfRNA could provide researchers with additional molecular information about tissue origin, gene activity and changing disease biology that may not be captured through cfDNA analysis alone.
Monarch Mag Targets Key Challenges in cfRNA Isolation
The Monarch Mag cfRNA Extraction Kit has been developed to address two major technical challenges associated with circulating RNA analysis: DNA carryover and loss of small RNA molecules. NEB combines chaotropic salt-based chemistry with magnetic silica beads, providing researchers with an alternative to phenol-based extraction and vacuum manifold workflows. The addition of lyophilized DNase is designed to minimize contaminating DNA that could interfere with downstream molecular analysis, while enabling recovery across the circulating RNA size spectrum. This includes long non-coding RNAs, small RNAs and microRNAs, providing researchers with access to multiple classes of RNA that could offer important insights into biological and disease processes. Unlike cfDNA, which has become an established analyte in liquid biopsy research, cfRNA can potentially provide information about which tissues are producing molecular signals and how biological processes change over time, making it an increasingly important target for translational and molecular research.
Workflow Supports Sequencing, Transcriptomics and Digital PCR
NEB designed the new extraction technology to integrate with several downstream molecular analysis workflows. The Monarch Mag cfRNA Extraction Kit can be paired with the NEBNext UltraExpress® Library Prep Kit for total transcriptome analysis and the NEBNext® Low Bias Small RNA Library Prep Kit for small RNA profiling, while extracted material can also support digital PCR-based amplification workflows. The combination provides researchers with a more integrated approach spanning sample extraction, sequencing preparation and amplification. NEB has also incorporated automation compatibility, flexible kit sizes and scalability to higher sample input volumes, which may support laboratories handling different research requirements and throughput levels. Lyophilization of temperature-sensitive reagents enables the kit to be shipped together at ambient temperature, simplifying laboratory logistics while supporting the sustainability objectives associated with the company’s Monarch product portfolio.
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cfRNA Technology Expands Molecular and Precision Research
The launch strengthens New England Biolabs’ position in the rapidly evolving field of cell-free nucleic acid profiling, where researchers are increasingly investigating cfRNA alongside cfDNA to obtain a broader molecular picture of disease. Cell-free RNA research has potential applications across molecular diagnostics research, oncology, biomarker development, transcriptomics and precision medicine, particularly because circulating RNA may reflect active biological processes occurring within specific tissues. NEB’s broader portfolio supports researchers across extraction, sequencing and amplification, allowing the company to provide technologies covering multiple stages of emerging cfRNA workflows. With more than five decades of experience developing molecular biology reagents and technologies, New England Biolabs also supports academic and industry research involving molecular diagnostics and nucleic-acid vaccine development. The introduction of the Monarch Mag Cell-free RNA Extraction Kit adds another specialized tool for scientists seeking reliable recovery of low-abundance RNA from complex biological samples and could help expand research into the potential value of cfRNA as an informative analyte for next-generation molecular profiling and disease research.
Source: New England Biolabs press release
