Index: Volume 1 Number 2
Next Article: Optimizing Direct mRNA Isolation

Keep Your Glassware, Apparatus and Lab Surfaces Free of RNase

It is imperative to keep your glassware, apparatus and lab surfaces free of RNase contamination when working with RNA. RNase-OFF® is a non-alkaline cleansing solution that has been developed specifically for this purpose. This solution contains a surfactant plus an agent that makes it highly active against RNase contamination.

FIGURE 1: Effectiveness of RNase-OFF® at removing RNase A.

Inactivates >20 µg RNase A

RNase-OFF® was tested against a leading competitor and demonstrated to eliminate >20 µg of RNase A dried onto the bottom of a microcentrifuge tube (Figure 1). The test was done by drying increasing amounts of RNase A onto the bottom of microcentrifuge tubes. The samples were then treated with 1.0 ml of each RNase decontamination product, vortexed briefly, and then rinsed twice with ddH₂O (1.0 ml each rinse). 2 µg of RNA (mouse liver) in 20 µl of TE was then added to each tube and incubated for 60 minutes at 37°C. The RNA was resolved on a 1.5% agarose gel (1X TAE) and visualized by EtBr staining. Intact rRNA bands (28S and 18S) indicate the absence of RNase contamination.

4 Fold More Effective Than Competitive Products

The results (Figure 1) show that RNase-OFF® is effective at removing RNase A contamination. In addition, the testing revealed that while RNase-OFF® effectively removed the RNase A contamination up to 20 µg, the leading competitor's product was only somewhat effective at the 5 µg level.

Twice the volume at Half the Price

RNase-OFF® is supplied in a convenient and cost-effective 500-ml size. RNase-OFF® is ready-to-use for eliminating RNase from all surfaces, including the interior of glassware and microcentrifuge tubes, electrophoresis tanks, pH electrodes, pipettors and lab benches. By following the simple decontamination instructions, RNase is completely inactivated and all RNase and cleaning residues are removed. Microcentrifuge tubes cleaned in this manner are free from any contaminants that can inhibit enzymatic reactions such as in vitro transcription, cDNA synthesis, labeling, and ligation.

Stable, Heat Resistant, Non-Alkaline, Non-Corrosive and Non-Carcinogenic

The RNase-OFF® decontamination solution is stable and heat resistant unlike many alternative products which quickly loose their RNase decontamination activity after only weeks stored at room temperature. RNase-OFF® is environmentally safe, non-corrosive and does not contain carcinogenic compounds, such as diethylpyrocarbonate.

Next Article: Optimizing Direct mRNA Isolation