I have been extracting RNA from various brain regions using the miRNEasy Micro kit, and have been getting good 260/230 values on the nanodrop for most of my samples except for a few in each batch, which seem to be random and have good concentration values that are not different from the rest. My labmate has postulated that contamination might be occurring during the wash steps, when the columns are transferred to empty waste tubes. However, according to the kit protocol, the waste tubes can be reused between washes, which I have been doing. Is it possible that this is where the contamination is coming from, and has anyone else used fresh waste collection tubes between washes with better 260/230 values? Additionally, do people wear masks in addition to performing the extractions in a fume hood, and is it likely that my not wearing a mask (after COVID restrictions were lifted) is contributing to contamination? I personally haven't noticed a difference in 260/230 values between when I stopped wearing a mask (I have always done the extractions in the fume hood), but I'm curious if others wear masks and do not have poor 260/230 values?
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence