Blood is a valuable and easily accessible sample type for clinical researchers that provides a snapshot of the organ systems at the time of sample collection. Readouts obtained from blood help inform clinical treatments, investigate disease mechanisms, evaluate drug response, and monitor outcomes. However, the impact of existing blood collection workflows on data output from new and high resolution technologies, like single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) remains a challenge. Recent scRNA-seq studies have shown that changes in gene expression can occur in blood cells in as little as a few hours post collection1. While bulk measurements rely on sample fixation to preserve the sample during transport, this approach does not preserve intact cells and hence, is not compatible with single cell technologies. With the recent availability of fixation compatible scRNA-seq assays comes the need to preserve blood while retaining single cell information. In this study, we evaluated various PBMC isolation and blood preservation methods which preserve single cell information while easing sample logistical constraints.