RNase is a very powerful nuclease, or enzyme, that degrades RNA by hydrolyzing the nucleic acid chain into very small unusable pieces. RNase contamination is one of the biggest concerns to those working with RNA. Experimentation and applications involving RNA are used in almost every area of Biotechnology and the Life Sciences. Scientists that work with RNA are constantly looking for better methods and products that will help keep their experiments and work areas free of RNase contamination.

The RNase Free Certification allows you to sell your products to such markets as molecular biologists working with RNA, Pharmaceutical and diagnostic firms that offer RNA products and research institutions that deal with gene therapy. This certification shows your end user that you care about the success and integrity of their work and offering them a quality product is your top priority.

Common sources of RNase contamination are human contact, oils from hands, face, arms, hair, and bacteria from non-sterile environments. RNase can even be prevalent in fully automated systems. Accidentally touching a pipet tip is all it takes. RNase is very durable and can be difficult to remove completely.

By certifying your products with our RNase Free Certification test you gain the ability to uphold your product claims with documented product testing that you can make available to your end user in the form of Certificates of Analysis for each lot tested.

RNase Test Method

All testing apparatus are treated with Diethyl Pyrocarbonate (DEPC) to inhibit possible RNase contamination of the experiment from outside sources. Test samples of the product are extracted and a portion of extract is incubated with an RNA standard (6 kb RNA) in a buffered solution with both sodium and magnesium ions. Negative and Positive controls are run with the test sample extract to validate the experimental procedure and technique. An unexposed RNA standard is included to represent the negative control. An RNA standard exposed to RNase is also included to represent the positive control.

All samples are incubated 1 hour at 37^oC. After the incubation period, the samples and controls are evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis and a picture for the Certificate of Analysis and final report is taken. The test samples and the negative control should show no degradation. The positive control should be a very blurry, quick-running band, indicating the effect of RNase contamination on the RNA standard pool that is used for all the samples.

Passing test criteria: The RNA exposed to the test sample or extract must look exactly the same as the RNA negative control that was exposed to sterile water. The negative control must be completely intact with no degradation. The positive control must show degradation of the RNA standard for the test to be valid.

Test Sensitivity: 10^-9 Kunitz Units/ µl.

How To Begin Certifying Your Products RNase Free

To begin certifying your product RNase Free, a sample of the product must be received by our Services Division to evaluate how best to extract your particular product for testing. Once an extraction procedure is approved, it is used each time that product is received for testing.

Many products will fit one of our pre-designed extraction procedures, such as microcentrifuge tubes, PCR tubes, pipet tips and PCR plates. However, not all products are the same, thus all products are evaluated on an individual basis. Liquid solutions and reagents as well as solids, due to the diversity of these products, require a separate test procedure to be designed each time a product of this type is submitted.

To begin the testing process, Click Here.

You and your company decide upon a testing schedule that best fits the needs of your particular product. MO BIO Laboratories, Inc. can work with you to design a testing schedule that accomplishes this goal.Click here for more information.

An optional service that MO BIO Laboratories offers is our On Site Auditing Program. A MO BIO Laboratories representative will come out to inspect your companys manufacturing and/or packaging facility and review your current product handling procedures. By utilizing this program, you and your employees will learn how to avoid common contaminates and how to eliminate any current contamination issues. Please contact the Services Department for more information.

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Download an Excel file to submit your samples for testing by MO BIO.

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