I left tubes with isolated DNA drying (before resuspension) in a biosafety hood for too long and a colleague came and turned on the UV light for some 20-30min. The light did not shine on the DNA directly, rather through the walls of the tubes. Can I use the DNA still or shall I rather produce and isolate another batch?
Edit: They were plastic 2ml Eppendorf tubes.
This depends mostly on the UV wavelength and the tube wall material. Most UV lamps for desinfection are mercury vapour TL tubes emitting UV-C at 254nm. Quarz is highly transmissive at that wavelength, but many other glass types not or just marginal. A Plastic tube will be fully blocking UV-C. So you might be lucky. If the samples are easily re-prepared then don't gamble. If they are unique and hard to make then try your luck.
You can review the literature to see if your DNA sample is affected by U.V light, but I think it's okay.
'"UV-A radiation has a poor efficiency in inducing DNA damage, because it is not absorbed by native DNA. UV-A and visible light energy (up to 670–700 nm) are able to generate singlet oxygen (1O2) that can damage DNA via indirect photosensitizing reactions [13].16 Ara 2010
Molecular Mechanisms of Ultraviolet Radiation-Induced DNA ..."
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