A wash step at collection of placental biopsies from preeclamptic pregnancies does not adversely affect levels of sFlt-1 or endoglin.

There is recent interest for uniform placental collection protocols so laboratories can share samples. However, concerns have been raised a wash step at collection causes significant loss of sFlt-1 and soluble endoglin, among the most studied proteins in placentology. We measured Flt-1 and endoglin mRNA and protein in 10 preeclamptic placentas that were washed, or left unwashed. Reassuringly, there was no significant change in the Flt-1, sFlt-1-e15a or sFlt-1-i13 mRNA or Flt-1 or sFlt-1 protein expression or localization. There was also no change in endoglin mRNA expression or protein localization. Washing preeclamptic placental samples does not alter anti-angiogenic factor expression.