RNA Sequencing at doctor's office

[fuellen]

Hello!
I'm looking for feasible scenarios that would enable gene expression data analyses at a doctor's office, probably based on a blood sample. It seems that sample processing is too sophisticated to be done there, so samples would have to be frozen and shipped. Question: How long can blood samples, after minimal processing, be stored at -18 degrees Celsius (or at +4 degrees, possibly) so that they may then be sent in bulk (eg on dry ice) to a sequencing facility?
Thanks for any hints!

[HESmith]

Expression profiles can change in minutes, so I'd recommend adding a stabilization component (e.g., Qiagen's RNAprotect) immediately after collection. At that point, the samples would be stable for weeks at 4˚ and indefinitely if frozen.

[GW_OK]

Is there a reason you can't draw into a PAXgene tube?