Cleaning compositions, methods and materials for reducing nucleic acid contamination

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods using cleaning compositions for the reduction of nucleic acid contamination. More particularly, the present invention relates to cationic compositions that bind to, and can remove, extraneous nucleic acids, polynucleotides, and DNA from the surface of a substrate. Preferably, the cationic compositions include a substance with a molecular weight of 500 Da or more. The present invention finds utility as a surface decontamination agent in PCR and other related DNA amplification techniques.

1 . A method of reducing nucleic acid contamination on a surface comprising: contacting the surface to be decontaminated with a solution comprising an organic cationic polymer substance. 
   
   
       2 . A method of reducing nucleic acid contamination on a surface comprising: contacting the surface to be decontaminated with a solution comprising a dissolved cationic polymer with a molecular weight of at least 500 Da. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the molecular weight of the cationic polymer is between 500 Da and 500 kDa. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the molecular weight of the cationic polymer is between 70 kDa and 300 kDa. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cationic polymer is a poly-cationic amino acid. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cationic polymer is a cationic polysaccharide. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the cationic polysaccharide is Chitosan. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the cationic polymer is a mixture of a poly-cationic amino acid and a cationic polysaccharide. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solution concentration of cationic polymer is between 1% and 10%. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the solution concentration of cationic polymer is between 3% and 5%. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the solution is present on a laboratory swab, wipe, cloth, filter, or sponge. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cationic polymer contains only positive (+) charge sites. 
   
   
       13 . A method of reducing nucleic acid contamination in air comprising: passing air to be decontaminated through a filter that has a cationic polymer having a molecular weight between 500 Da and 500 kDa substance upon its surface. 
   
   
       14 . A kit for reducing nucleic acid contamination comprising:
 a solution comprising an organic cationic substance; and   a cloth, wipe, sponge or filter.   
   
   
       15 . A kit for reducing nucleic acid contamination comprising comprising a cloth, wipe, sponge or filter impregnated or coated with an organic cationic substance.