Can we reuse agarose gel? - (Jun/25/2006 )
Hi all,
This seems like a stoopid question, but I have been wondering whether we can re-use the agarose gel? as in after using it for one time, we use it again.Will it affect any result? I just want to clear my doub....
Yes they can be reused, there are a variety of methods:
1. Re-melt the agarose and cast a fresh gel,
2. Just run the bands out the bottom and reload the gel for further uses.
These seem to be the common ones, but they both had disadvantages. No1 tends to become spckly after a while and the background increases with time due to the DNA being left in the gel. No2 depletes the conductivity of the buffering system quite quickly, making it harder to run an resolve bands nicely on gels.
every time you run it, you are depleting buffering capacity of the TAE or TBE or whatever you're using...but you can re-use a few times
I do not know about using lanes again. but, to conserve time and reagents, sometimes I will pour one very large gel (like 60 lanes) and use it in sections. I only do this if I will use the whole thing within a day or two. I start with the bottom, then use the lanes on the top last so there isn't any contamination of wells by prior samples. I will run the same gel about 4 times; I have never done it more than that. I think it is equivalent to re-using buffer a few times.
however, just to be on the safe side, I would never re-use a gel for something requiring detection, like EMSA or Southern
Careful because you loose EtBr with the run. If you reuse it, remember to add fresh EtBr
In my humble opinion, I wouldn't melt again a Agarose Gel with EtBr just as preventive measure to reduce potential risk (for example, someone going to your lab and breaking and spelling your flask with the agarose and the EtBr). I don't think that you save so much money or time if you take into consideration the risks involved.
However, use the same solid gel to run various products as aimikins said is OK.
OOOooh, I see. Cause I actually I was wondering if re-loading it with another batch of product might causae smearing of band and also the problem with EtBr..
Anyway, thanks for all the info!!!
Allways use fresh gel if you plan to use the product for molecular cloning or sequencing
For viewing PCR results, digestion tests, etc., I will melt and re-use the gel upto four times
Is agarose really that expensive for you guys?
Personally, I'd rather find other ways to save money.
The only thing I do is reuse the liquid buffer a few times.
-Matt
Yes, microwaving Ethidium Bromide = stupid idea.
It's like fifty cents to run a gel. I think my lungs and health are much more important than how much money my PI or company saves on cheap agarose.
-Matt
In my humble opinion, I wouldn't melt again a Agarose Gel with EtBr just as preventive measure to reduce potential risk (for example, someone going to your lab and breaking and spelling your flask with the agarose and the EtBr). I don't think that you save so much money or time if you take into consideration the risks involved.
Yes, microwaving Ethidium Bromide = stupid idea.
It's like fifty cents to run a gel. I think my lungs and health are much more important than how much money my PI or company saves on cheap agarose.
-Matt
I agree with you, it's not so much money, and I wouldn't take health risk. Neither would I take some risk for my experiment.
However, you can cut the lanes you need and do the migration, and keep the gel left in the fridge untill you need it. It's not re-use of gel, but sparing.