Experience with RNAlater samples?

[DNA Sorcerer]

I have two tubes of a precious, irreplaceable sample with approximately 20 cells of an unknown eukaryotic microbe and would like to get a transcriptome out of it. As far as I could find out, the way to go is spinning down the cells and proceed with a typical RNA prep.

I have two important questions before proceeding: Is there any other recommendation for a minute sample stored in RNAlater?

What is safer: do RNA amplification and then cDNA or do cDNA and then DNA amplification?

Thanks,

[DNA Sorcerer]

I've decided to use Cells-to-cDNA by Ambion. If someone objects to that please let me know asap!