Safety Disposal of Electrophoresis Gels and PCR Contaminate with Ethidium Bromide and Alternative Methods

Electrophoresis gel is commonly used in molecular biology laboratories for the identification of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and proteins. This gel will typically be agarose-based.

The safety disposal of electrophoresis gels and PCR contaminate with ethidium bromide and alternative methods.

The DNA/proteins can be stained by adding the dye to the sample before electrophoresis and the gel can be placed in a dye solution after electrophoresis completed. Waste disposal requirements will vary on the dye used and the methodology used to stain the cells.

Ethidium Bromide, Acridine Orange, SYBR Green I, SYBR Green II, SYBR Gold, Gel Star dyes have been determined to have mutagenic properties. The gel that cast with these dyes in them, unwanted dye stock solutions and all contaminated debris must be collected for disposal by the HWMU. Gels that undergone electrophoresis and staining were destained.