I hear the first time about RNA contamination in the lab, while DNA contamination is a usual thing. Do you mean, that you get a PCR band without adding a template? If yes, the usual way to avoid it: 1) reorder your primers 2) Change all the PCR solutions 3) Have a special set of pipettes for PCR ( wash them overnight in SDS solution) 4) Use pipett tips with filter, if possible 5) Pipett PCR not in the lab, but in the other room, e.g. cell culture room 6) Never use your pipettes for loading the agarose gel. This should help.

RNA can also be protected from RNase activity by using one of the following RNase inhibitors:

1. Ribonucleoside Vanadyl Complex (NEB #S1402) is a transition-state analog inhibitor of RNase A-type enzymes, with Ki = 1 X 10-5 M. Unfortunately, the complex also inhibits many other enzymes used in RNA work. One exception is reverse transcriptase, so this complex has proved useful in protecting cellular mRNA from degradation during purification prior to cDNA synthesis.

2. RNase Inhibitor, (NEB #M0307), an angiogenin-binding protein isolated from human placenta, is a better inhibitor (Ki = 4 x 10-14 M; 6) and is specific for RNases, but it is much more expensive. Consequently, this inhibitor is useful only for small-scale applications (e.g., in vitro transcription). (http://www.neb.com/nebecomm/tech_reference/general_data/avoiding_contamination.asp#.ULhIPOTLSbo)

RNA is highly sensitive to the environment. How RNA cause you a problem in your lab??????

As yasser said rna would degrade pretty soon naturally due to its innate unstable nature... Another thing you can do is shift all temperature sensitive chemicals out and increase the lab temperature for a while as well...

I agree with Joachim, any nucleic acid is easily eliminated with 10 % sodium hypochlorite. It works well.

In my experience RNAaseZap works well. Before we start any RNA work we usually use RNAaseZap to clean the workbench. Use RNAase/DNAase free mico-tips, tubes etc.

I hear the first time about RNA contamination in the lab, while DNA contamination is a usual thing. Do you mean, that you get a PCR band without adding a template? If yes, the usual way to avoid it: 1) reorder your primers 2) Change all the PCR solutions 3) Have a special set of pipettes for PCR ( wash them overnight in SDS solution) 4) Use pipett tips with filter, if possible 5) Pipett PCR not in the lab, but in the other room, e.g. cell culture room 6) Never use your pipettes for loading the agarose gel. This should help.

@Binu Antony

The question was about how to get rid of RNA. RNaseZap is used to remove RNase.

P.S. It sounds like you are doing RT (reverse transcription) - PCR, and getting the products you don't expect. 99,99% probability, that this is a contamination with DNA product, not with RNA , already in your RT reaction. Use the special PCR pipettes also for RT, change the solutions, etc

1. wipe your whole bench down with 10% bleach/70%EtOH

2. Order a UltraClean® Lab Cleaner (12095-250) from Mobio

3. Wipe down 10 % sodium hypochlorite

I agree with Daria that it is probably an issue with DNA contamination, most like plasmid DNA as these are very stable (and usually intronless). In order to confirm this you could do a PCR targeting Ampicilin. To avoid the issue (with out determining the cause) just follw Darias advice.

I went through all the above answers to the question raised from Aftab. I am convinced with them but conditionally.

Can chloride be used to decontaminate DNA on the appliance suface and steel beads?