[Nhcoll-l] Use of denatured ethanol for short term storage of molecular samples

[Peter H Wimberger]

I agree with Dean.  Have used absinthe for mussels as well – it was expensive, but I was in a pinch, and it was the highest proof around.  Transferred to 95% EtOH when back in the lab after a few days and DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing worked fine.  Absinthe arguably should be worse for the DNA than Everclear, but it worked.
PW

From: Nhcoll-l [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Dean Pentcheff
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2019 11:50 AM
To: Nick Cairns <nacairns at gmail.com>; nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Use of denatured ethanol for short term storage of molecular samples

We have had excellent results on Sanger sequencing (haven't tried genomic) using Everclear (high-proof drinking alcohol). Specimens were preserved in Everclear, then transferred to 95% ethanol a few days later. These were small freshwater crustaceans (aquatic isopods).

I'd be more inclined to go towards drinkable alcohol rather than denatured alcohol — if it's safe for human consumption, there probably isn't too much bioactive chemistry going on (other than the ethanol itself).

-Dean
--
Dean Pentcheff
pentcheff at gmail.com<mailto:pentcheff at gmail.com>
dpentche at nhm.org<mailto:dpentche at nhm.org>
https://research.nhm.org/disco
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On Thu, Apr 18, 2019 at 2:04 PM Nick Cairns <nacairns at gmail.com<mailto:nacairns at gmail.com>> wrote:
Hello everyone,
I'm seeking guidance on reagents. I'm trying to collect chorus frogs from across western Canada (whole and toe clips). These samples will be likely be extracted using phenol/chloroform then ethanol (EtOH) precipitation to tidy them up. Downstream they'll be used for mtDNA (Sanger) and genomic (ddRAD) protocols. The issue is, I am currently in rural Saskatchewan and only have denatured EtOH (Fisherbrand Histoprep 95%) available to me.  I understand that the additives in some denatured EtOH can cause issues downstream but has anyone ever used it for short term storage then replaced it later with anhydrous to remove the additives? Can these additives be reduced from the tissues after the fact?
Any insights would be most welcome.
Thank you,
Nick
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