In this experiment, nine buffer and water stock solutions from an RNA-free zone of an academic lab were tested for RNases. The samples were in use for 1-14 months. Thirty-five microliters of each sample was collected, split and mixed with 5 µg of RNA and RNase ONE™ 10X buffer. RNasin® Ribonuclease Inhibitor (40u) was added to one of the two samples, and both were incubated overnight at 37 °C. Lane 1, marker; lane 2, RNA control; lanes 3–11, samples from the laboratory.
Of the nine samples tested, seven showed varying degrees of RNase contamination. For all samples tested, the RNA remained intact during the overnight incubation at 37°C when Recombinant RNasin® Ribonuclease Inhibitor was added. Details of this experiment can be found in this technical article.