Ethidium bromide handling
Ethidium bromide (EtBr) is a fluorescent dye commonly used to visualize DNA in agarose gel electrophoresis experiments. It is a mutagenic compound that intercalates between the nitrogenous bases of double strand DNA and RNA
EtBr fluoresces under UV light. Personal protective equipment is needed for UV use.
Ethidium bromide solutions at concentration of less than 1 ug/ml are not considered hazardous waste.
Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) handling waste:
Ethidium bromide stock: 1mg/ml; 1µg/µl
One drop of EtBr= 50 µl
EtBr concentration in 100ml agarose gel is 0.5 µg/ml
EtBr concentration in running buffer is 0.1 µg/ml
Ethidium bromide solutions at concentration of less than 1 µg/ml are not considered hazardous waste
EtBr concentration in gel agarose/running buffer
|
No. drops EtBr |
Gel agarose (ml) |
EtBr concentration (gel or running buffer) |
Waste |
Observation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 drop |
100 ml |
0.5 µg/ml |
Regular trash |
|
|
2 drops |
100 ml |
1 µg/ml |
Regular trash |
|
|
3 drops |
100 ml |
1.5 µg/ml |
Chemical waste |
Plastic bag for Tabib company |
|
1 drop |
50 ml |
1 µg/ml |
Regular trash |
|
|
2 drops |
50 ml |
2 µg/ml |
Chemical waste |
Plastic bag for Tabib company |
|
3 drops |
50 ml |
3 µg/ml |
Chemical waste |
Plastic bag for Tabib company |
|
----- |
Running buffer |
0.1 µg/ml |
Regular trash |
Drain disposal |
