DNA/RNA Shield

What is DNA/RNA Shield?

DNA/RNA Shield is a nucleic acid stabilization reagent developed by Zymo Research that preserves DNA and RNA in biological samples at ambient temperature (15–25 °C) without freezing or refrigeration. The aqueous reagent permeates cells on contact, inactivating nucleases and infectious agents—including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites—while maintaining the genetic integrity and gene expression profiles of samples for up to 28 days at room temperature or multiple years at −20 °C. Sample types include cells, tissues, swabs, blood, saliva, urine, feces, plant material, insects, and environmental specimens. DNA/RNA Shield is the primary reagent for any workflow requiring ambient-temperature nucleic acid preservation from collection through extraction.

What you will find:

• DNA/RNA stabilization solution for biological sample preservation

• Ambient temperature sample preservation reagents

• 1X and 2X concentration formats for different sample types

• Nucleic acid protection reagents for molecular workflows

• Pathogen-inactivating preservation solutions for safer handling

• Compatible solutions for PCR, qPCR, and sequencing workflows

• General-purpose nucleic acid preservation reagents for research use

How to Choose the Right DNA/RNA Shield Format

1× Solution vs. 2× Concentrate
The 1× ready-to-use solution (catalog R1100) is used directly: add 1 volume of reagent per 1 volume of liquid sample, or submerge tissue fully. The 2× concentrate (R1200) is used to treat high-volume liquid samples (blood, urine) where diluting the sample would reduce nucleic acid input. Prepare a working 1× solution by mixing 2× concentrate 1:1 with the liquid sample at collection.

Pre-filled Devices vs. Bulk Reagent
Pre-filled collection tubes, swab kits, lysis tubes, and saliva kits deliver accurate volumes at the point of collection without pipetting. Bulk reagent (50 mL–250 mL) is used in the laboratory for tissue immersion, custom plate-based workflows, or when preparing multiple collection devices at once.

DNA-Only vs. Dual DNA + RNA Preservation
DNA/RNA Shield preserves both simultaneously. If only DNA is required (e.g., genotyping, RFLP), any stabilization reagent is adequate. When RNA is the target—particularly for transcriptomics, gene expression, or viral RNA detection—DNA/RNA Shield is preferred over RNAlater because it requires no removal before extraction and prevents freeze-thaw degradation.

Downstream Extraction Compatibility
DNA/RNA Shield is directly compatible with Zymo Research Quick-DNA, Quick-RNA, ZymoBIOMICS, and Direct-zol kits without removal. Third-party kits (QIAGEN DNeasy, Thermo Fisher MagMAX) require pilot testing; residual shield reagent can cause inhibition in some column-based systems at high concentrations.

Volume Per Sample
For swab samples: pre-filled 1 mL or 2 mL collection tubes. For tissue: 10× volume reagent per gram; a 50 mg biopsy needs ~500 µL reagent in a 2 mL tube. For stool: 1 mL reagent per 50–100 mg sample. For whole blood: use the 2× concentrate at a 1:5 blood-to-reagent ratio for DNA/RNA blood collection tubes.

Specifications Context

DNA/RNA Shield has received FDA 510(k) clearance (K202641) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA preservation and viral inactivation. The reagent is supplied as a clear aqueous solution, RNase-free, DNase-free, and PCR-inhibitor-free per lot certificate. At −20 °C storage, DNA stability extends to 2+ years with no measurable freeze-thaw degradation. A precipitate may form at temperatures below 15 °C; resolving requires warming to >37 °C for 10 minutes; reagent function is unaffected. DNA/RNA Shield is among the most-cited sample stabilization reagents in published microbiome, environmental genomics, and infectious disease surveillance literature.

MBP is a registered vendor for Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vanderbilt University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Bulk volume and PO orders accepted. Contact the MBP team to request a quote.