Use of 70% ethanol to remove RNAse from working area - (Oct/04/2009 )

Hi all,

I would like to know if 70% ethanol can be used for cleaning benchtops which are used for RNA extraction pruposes, since we dont use any RNAzap solution for making RNase free environment. Instead we clean the surface using DEPC treated water, will this do to make RNase free zone for RNA work???

Thankyou all

No - RNases will persist on the surfaces if wiped with 70% ethanol and DEPC water. Any cleaning will remove some of the contamination, so it is better than nothing. You could try treating the surface with 0.1 M NaOH to remove RNA.

Hydrogen peroxide is also effective, and (at low concentrations) substantially more user-friendly. Bleach will work as well. Water and ethanol will do very little.