Open AccessComparisons of Protocols for Decontamination of Environmental Ice Samples for Biological and Molecular Examinations
Author(s) -
Scott O. Rogers,
Vincent Theraisnathan,
Leopold Donald J.,
Yi Zhao,
G. Zhang,
Seung-Geuk Shin,
John D. Castello,
William T. Starmer
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
applied and environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.552
H-Index - 324
eISSN - 1070-6291
pISSN - 0099-2240
DOI - 10.1128/aem.70.4.2540-2544.2004
Subject(s) - human decontamination , sodium hypochlorite , biological materials , environmental science , biochemical engineering , chemistry , waste management , engineering , organic chemistry
Drilling and laboratory manipulations of glacial ice cores introduce contemporary microbes and biomolecules onto the cores. We report herein a systematic comparative study of several decontamination protocols. Only treatment with 5% sodium hypochlorite eliminated all external contaminating microbes and nucleic acids while maintaining the integrity of those within the cores.