Stabilization Reagents

<h2>What are Stabilization Reagents?</h2>
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Stabilization reagents are aqueous solutions added to biological samples&mdash;tissue, blood, saliva, swabs, feces, or environmental specimens&mdash;immediately after collection to inhibit nuclease activity, inactivate infectious agents, and preserve nucleic acid integrity during storage and transport at ambient temperature. They replace immediate snap-freezing in workflows where cold-chain logistics are impractical or unavailable. Choose stabilization reagents when samples must be transported at room temperature, stored before processing, or collected in remote or field settings where freezing is impossible.
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<h2>What you will find:</h2>
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<ul>
<li>DNA stabilization reagents for genomic DNA preservation</li>
<li>RNA stabilization reagents for transcriptomics and gene expression studies</li>
<li>Dual DNA/RNA stabilization buffers for broad molecular workflows</li>
<li>Blood stabilization solutions for clinical and diagnostic sampling</li>
<li>Tissue stabilization reagents for biopsy and solid sample preservation</li>
<li>Stool and microbiome stabilization solutions for sequencing studies</li>
<li>Pre-filled stabilization reagent tubes (1 mL&ndash;10 mL formats)</li>
</ul>
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<h2>How to Choose Stabilization Reagents</h2>
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Nucleic Acid Target (DNA, RNA, or Both)
DNA-stabilizing reagents preserve genomic and microbial DNA during storage and transport. RNA-stabilizing reagents must rapidly inactivate RNases to maintain RNA integrity for transcriptomics and gene expression studies. For workflows requiring both DNA and RNA, select reagents validated for dual preservation, and confirm they maintain suitable RNA integrity over your anticipated storage period.
Sample Matrix Compatibility
Reagent choice depends on sample type. Liquid blood, tissue, stool, saliva, and environmental samples each require appropriate stabilization protocols and reagent volumes recommended by the manufacturer. Using insufficient reagent volume or an incompatible stabilization protocol can reduce preservation efficiency.
Downstream Compatibility
Verify that the stabilization reagent is compatible with your intended nucleic acid extraction kit and downstream applications, including PCR, qPCR, NGS, or transcriptomic analysis. Some stabilization reagents can be processed directly with compatible extraction kits, while others require removal before extraction.
Infectious Agent Inactivation
For potentially infectious clinical or environmental samples, select stabilization reagents that have been validated to inactivate relevant pathogens while preserving nucleic acid quality. Confirm any regulatory clearances or pathogen-specific validation claims for the exact product being used.
Storage Duration
Select a stabilization reagent validated for your expected storage time and temperature. Some products support short-term ambient storage, while others are designed for extended preservation at room temperature, refrigerated, or frozen conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's validated storage recommendations.
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<h2>Specifications Context</h2>
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Stabilization reagents should be added immediately after sample collection because delayed stabilization can reduce RNA integrity, particularly in tissue samples. Products are available in multiple formulations and container sizes for laboratory and field use. Always verify the recommended reagent concentration, sample-to-reagent ratio, storage conditions, and compatibility with your downstream workflow according to the manufacturer's documentation.
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MBP can help align the stabilization system with your exact workflow.&nbsp;<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the MBP team</a> for bulk pricing and PO ordering.

<h2 dir="ltr">What is DNA/RNA Shield?</h2>
 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&ndash;25 &deg;C) without freezing or refrigeration. The aqueous reagent permeates cells on contact, inactivating nucleases and infectious agents&mdash;including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites&mdash;while maintaining the genetic integrity and gene expression profiles of samples for up to 28 days at room temperature or multiple years at &minus;20 &deg;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.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
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<ul>
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DNA/RNA stabilization solution for biological sample preservation
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<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Ambient temperature sample preservation reagents
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1X and 2X concentration formats for different sample types
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<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Nucleic acid protection reagents for molecular workflows
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<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Pathogen-inactivating preservation solutions for safer handling
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Compatible solutions for PCR, qPCR, and sequencing workflows
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General-purpose nucleic acid preservation reagents for research use
</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"> How to Choose the Right DNA/RNA Shield Format</h2>
 1&times; Solution vs. 2&times; Concentrate The 1&times; 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&times; 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&times; solution by mixing 2&times; 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&ndash;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&mdash;particularly for transcriptomics, gene expression, or viral RNA detection&mdash;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&times; volume reagent per gram; a 50 mg biopsy needs ~500 &micro;L reagent in a 2 mL tube. For stool: 1 mL reagent per 50&ndash;100 mg sample. For whole blood: use the 2&times; concentrate at a 1:5 blood-to-reagent ratio for DNA/RNA blood collection tubes.
<h2 dir="ltr"> Specifications Context</h2>
 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 &minus;20 &deg;C storage, DNA stability extends to 2+ years with no measurable freeze-thaw degradation. A precipitate may form at temperatures below 15 &deg;C; resolving requires warming to &gt;37 &deg;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. <a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the MBP team&nbsp;</a>to request a quote.

DNA/RNA Shield

MSDS

Protocol

DNA/RNA Shield™

DNA/RNA Shield™ by Zymo Research — ambient-temperature sample preservation and pathogen inactivation reagent. Stabilizes DNA, RNA, and microbiome ≥30 days at 4–30°C; inactivates SARS-CoV-2, influenza, Ebolavirus, bacteria, fungi. Available as 1× standard (R1100-50: 50 ml; R1100-250: 250 ml) or 2× concentrate (R1200-25: 25 ml; R1200-125: 125 ml). 60-month shelf life.

Applicable For

Device Specs

Reagent Storage

Sample Collection

Sample Source

Stability

Manufacturer

Shipping Condition

Storage Condition

DNA/RNA Shield™ (250 ml)

DNA/RNA Shield™ (50 ml)

DNA/RNA Shield™ (2X Concentrate) (25 ml)

DNA/RNA Shield™ (2X Concentrate) (125 ml)

PK Digestion Buffer

R1200-1-20 by Zymo Research is the PK Digestion Buffer (20 ml), used with Proteinase K in Zymo Research nucleic acid purification workflows. Included in the Quick-RNA Whole Blood Kit (R1201) and compatible Zymo kits; available as a standalone replenishment reagent in 5 ml and 20 ml formats.

PK Digestion Buffer (20 ml)

PK Digestion Buffer (5 ml)

DataSheet

R1201-Protocol

Quick-RNA™ Whole-Blood (50 Preps.)

R1201 by Zymo Research is the Quick-RNA™ Whole Blood Kit (50 preps) for total RNA isolation — including microRNAs ≥17 nt — from up to 1 ml of whole blood, plasma, or serum using Zymo-Spin columns. Typical yield 2–10 µg from 1 ml human blood; purity A260/A280 &gt;1.8. RNA is ready for NGS and RT-qPCR.