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Technical support : Precautions for handling RNA
Special care should be taken when working with RNA, because of the chemical instability of the RNA and the ubiquitous presence of RNAses that can maintain activity even after prolonged boiling or autoclaving.
- When working with RNA, wear gloves at all times, and manipulate in a dedicated place.
- Treat surfaces of benches with commercially available RNAse inactivating agents.
- Glassware should be baked at 180-200°C for at least 4 hrs (autoclaving is not sufficient to inactivate RNAses).
- Use commercially available RNAse-free plasticware and reagents including water.
- RNAses inhibitors can be used to protect RNA from degradation in all applications (avoid solutions with strong denaturing agents such as SDS or urea, and hold the temperature below 65°C to maintain the inhibitors active).
- Always keep the RNA sample on ice when preparing an experiment.
- Avoid prolonged exposure of RNA to high temperatures (> 65°C) that will affect RNA integrity.
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