title: Efficacy Assessment of Nucleic Acid Decontamination Reagents Used in Molecular Diagnostic Laboratories.
abstract: The occurrence of nucleic acid cross contamination in the laboratory resulting in false positive results of diagnostic samples is seriously problematic. Despite precautions to minimize or even avoid nucleic acid cross contaminations, it may appear anyway. Until now, no standardized strategy is available to evaluate the efficacy of commercially offered decontamination reagents. Therefore, a protocol for the reliable determination of nucleic acid decontamination efficacy using highly standardized solution and surface tests was established and validated. All tested sodium hypochlorite-based reagents proved to be highly efficient in nucleic acid decontamination even after short reaction times. For DNA Away, a sodium hydroxide-based decontamination product, dose- and time-dependent effectiveness was ascertained. For two other commercial decontamination reagents, the phosphoric acid-based DNA Remover and the non-enzymatic reagent DNA-ExitusPlus™ IF, no reduction of amplifiable DNA/RNA was observed. In conclusion, a simple test procedure for evaluation of the elimination efficacy of decontamination reagents against amplifiable nucleic acid is presented.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Melina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology and Immunology, Sensemattstr, 293, 3147, Mittelhäusern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Renevey
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology and Immunology, Sensemattstr, 293, 3147, Mittelhäusern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thür
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Donata
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D057089:Pathology, Molecular / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite