Jan 12, 2024
Bleaching and UV decontamination of materials
- 1Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany;
- 2Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Document Citation: Elena Essel, Matthias Meyer, Merlin Szymanski 2024. Bleaching and UV decontamination of materials. protocols.io https://dx.doi.org/10.17504/protocols.io.x54v9p4m1g3e/v1
License: This is an open access document distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Created: January 11, 2024
Last Modified: April 10, 2024
Document Integer ID: 93370
Funders Acknowledgement:
Max Planck Society
Abstract
Protocol for reducing DNA contamination on materials (e.g. quarz glass bottles, spatulas) used in the ancient DNA cleanroom by sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and UV treatment.
Note
Perform bleaching and UV decontamination of materials only if indicated in the respective protocols/documents for material usage or preparation.
Materials
| Material | Supplier | Cat. no. | |
| Material to be decontaminated (e.g. quarz glass bottles, spatulas) | various | - | |
| Sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach), 12% | Roth | 9062 | |
| Zip lock bag/ storage container | various | - | |
| Glass bottle | Kisker Biotech GmbH & Co. KG | 090347 |
Equipment
- Plastic basin (e.g., Roth, cat. no. 1598.1)
Protocol
1. Put plastic basin into a chemical fume hood and fill with the material you want to decontaminate.
2. Pour bleach (12% Sodium hypochlorite) on top of it until it is fully submerged.
Safety information
Caution when working with sodium hypochlorite (bleach)
Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is corrosive, which means it can irritate or burn your skin or eyes. It can also corrode metals. When mixed with certain other chemicals (e.g. Guanodinethiocynate) or cleaners, it can produce toxic gases.
Only use sodium hypochlorite (bleach) in well ventilated rooms while wearing protective gear (gloves, goggles).
3. Incubate the material ~15 min in bleach. Occasionally shake the basin to ensure all surfaces are in contact with the bleach solution.
4. After incubation, carefully take out the material and rinse it thoroughly with tap water. Then leave it for drying on a clean surface (e.g. aluminum foil, laboratory tissue) in a chemical fume hood (2-3 days).
Note
[Note]
For spatulas: Store spatula vertically on the draining rack so that the remaining liquid can drain out. If some liquid stays in the spatula, try to remove it mechanically via flipping the spatula with your fingers.
5. Pour bleach back into a glass bottle and rinse the plastic basin with tap water. Then leave it for drying on a clean surface (e.g. aluminum foil, laboratory tissue) under in a chemical fume hood (2-3 days).
Note
[Labeling]
Label the glass bottle with '12 % sodium hypochlorite for decontamination', date (YYYYMMDD) and initials. Since bleach can be used several times, add date and initials after every use.
Note
[Note]
Bleach can be reused up to 10 times. Exchange the bleach after ten uses or when you start seeing impurities.
6. UV-treat the dried material following the protocol in the Appendix.
7. Put the cleaned and UV-treated material into an appropriate, clean storage container.
Note
[Labeling]
Label your storage container with date (YYYYMMDD), initials and 'bleached and UV treated'.
Note
[Note]
Silica bottles do not need a storage container. Close them properly and put them into the stock storage.
8. Label the storage container with content, date and your initials.
Appendix
Document
NAME
UV decontamination of materials CREATED BY
Elena Essel