Biosample sub-study
1600/2390
The EAST-AFNET4 biosample study was started a few months after the initiation of the trial. Participation was offered to 2390/2789 patients. These patients were asked to donate a blood sample at baseline, documented by a separate informed consent form. 1600/2390 patients (67%) consented to blood sampling and analysis. Samples were shipped to the central processing and storage facility at UKE Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany), spun, and frozen for later analysis. DNA was isolated from buffy coat prepared from EDTA blood samples.