Methods and reagents for preservation of dna in bodily fluids

Abstract

Methods, systems and reagents are provided for preserving nucleic acids in a bodily fluid, such as urine, blood, blood serum, and amniotic fluid. The preservative includes an amount of at least one chelator enhancing component selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, guanidine, sodium salicylate, sodium perchlorate, guanidine thiocyanate, and sodium thiocyanate in the range of from about 0.1M to about 2M and an amount of least one buffer component selected from the group consisting of Tris and HEPES.

1 . A method of preserving a nucleic acid in a fluid, comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a nucleic acid preservative solution comprising:
 i. an amount of at least one chelator enhancing component selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, guanidine, sodium salicylate, sodium perchlorate, guanidine thiocyanate, and sodium thiocyanate in the range of from about 0.1M to about 2M; 
 ii. an amount of least one buffer component selected from the group consisting of Tris and HEPES; and 
   b. adding said nucleic acid preservative to said fluid.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said fluid is a bodily fluid. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid preservative is an aqueous solution comprising said chelator enhancing component and said buffer. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said chelator enhancing component is selected from the group consisting of sodium perchlorate, sodium thiocyanate, lithium chloride, and guanidine thiocyanate. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said chelator enhancing component is guanidine thiocyanate. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said buffer is Tris. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said chelator enhancing component is guanidine thiocyanate and said buffer is Tris. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said chelator enhancing component is present in an amount of about 1M. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid preservative further comprises an amount of at least one enzyme inactivating component selected from the group consisting of manganese chloride, sarkosyl and sodium dodecyl sulfate in the range of about 0-5% molar concentration. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said nucleic acid is selected from the group consisting of DNA, RNA, mRNA, and cDNA. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein said DNA is eukaryotic DNA. 
   
   
       12 . A nucleic acid preservative solution comprising:
 a. an amount of at least one chelator enhancing component selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, guanidine, sodium salicylate, sodium perchlorate, guanidine thiocyanate, and sodium thiocyanate in the range of from about 0.1M to about 2M; and   b. an amount of least one buffer component selected from the group consisting of Tris and HEPES.   
   
   
       13 . A nucleic acid preservative according to  claim 12  wherein said nucleic acid preservative is an aqueous solution comprising said chelator enhancing component and said buffer. 
   
   
       14 . A nucleic acid preservative according to  claim 12  wherein said chelator enhancing component is guanidine thiocyanate. 
   
   
       15 . A nucleic acid preservative according to  claim 12  wherein said chelator enhancing component is guanidine thiocyanate and said buffer is Tris. 
   
   
       16 . A nucleic acid preservative according to  claim 12  wherein said chelator enhancing component is present in an amount of about 1M. 
   
   
       17 . A nucleic acid preservative according to  claim 12  further comprising an amount of at least one enzyme inactivating component selected from the group consisting of manganese chloride, sarkosyl, and sodium dodecyl sulfate in the range of about 0-5% molar concentration. 
   
   
       18 . A preserved nucleic acid-containing fluid comprising:
 a. an amount of at least one chelator enhancing component selected from the group consisting of lithium chloride, guanidine, sodium salicylate, sodium perchlorate, guanidine thiocyanate, and sodium thiocyanate in the range of from about 0.1M to about 2M; and   b. an amount of least one buffer component selected from the group consisting of Tris and HEPES.