Total RNA Extraction
Starting with high quality, pure, and intact total RNA is critical to many experiments, (e.g. RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, array analysis, Northern blots, nuclease protection assays and RNA sequencing). The table below will help you choose the right Ambion® product to purify total RNA from your specific sample type and sample size.
Which Total RNA Purification Kit is right for you?
| Gold standard for highly pure, intact RNA | High-quality RNA in less than 20 minutes | High-throughput purification of RNA and DNA | Complete, no purification system for qRT-PCR results | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order now | Order now | Order now | Order now | |
| TRIzol® Reagents | PureLink™ Kits | MagMAX™ Kits | Cells to Ct | |
| Recommendations | Most Cited, Top Seller | Best for qPCR | ||
| Isolation method | High purity organic extraction (requires alcohol precipitation) | Fast, convenient silica column | Scalable, flexible format with magnetic beads | Chemical lysis (time to qRT-PCR results) |
| Prep time | ~1 hr | < 20 minutes | ~45 minutes | 10 minutes |
| Compatible sample types | Most sample types, particularly more difficult to lyse | Cells and tissues | Tissues, cells, blood, serum/plasma, urine, plants | Cells |
| Amount of starting material | 100 mg of tissue or 107 cells (requires 1 mL reagent) | Up to 200 mg tissue, 5x106 to 1x108 cells | Up to 100 mg tissue, Up to 5x106 cells | 1–100,000 cells |
| Reverse transcription reagents included | ✓ | |||
| qPCR Master mix included | ✓ | |||
| High throughput compatible | ✓ (plate format available) |
✓ | ✓ |
Organic Extraction & Purification
Organic solvent extraction offers tried-and-true performance, and is ideal for the most stringent applications when combined with silica-membrane filtration or magnetic bead purification. TRIzol® Reagent offers:
- Broadest sample type compatibility
- Robust method
- Good for difficult samples (e.g. high lipid tissue) and scalable sample input
- Wide acceptance as the gold standard
Magnetic Bead Purification
Magnetic particles offer solution-phase binding and washing kinetics to facilitate RNA purification and improved sample handling, including automation, ideal for higher throughput processing. MagMAX™ Magnetic Beads offer:
- Flexible and scalable throughput
- Amenable to automation for higher throughput
- Better removal of inhibitors and low elution volume resulting in more concentrated RNA
Ambion® Brand RNA Essentials
Ambion® brand products, are designed to minimize nuclease contamination and ensure experimental success in less-than-ideal conditions. These products are manufactured under the most stringent quality specifications and include:
- RNA purification kits
- Specimen collection and RNA stabilization solutions
- Nuclease inhibitors and decontaminants
- Nuclease-free buffers and plastics
- RNA ladders
- Northern blot reagents
Silica-membrane Purification
Silica-membrane filters allow fast and easy RNA purification resulting in pure RNA that can be used in most applications. PureLink™ Purification columns offer:
- A fast and easy method suitable for most downstream uses
- Wide sample type compatibility
- Familiar spin column format commonly used for low-med throughput
Nucleic Acid Purification and Analysis Support Center
Find tips, troubleshooting help, and resources for your nucleic acid purification & analysis applications.
DNA Purification Brochure
RNA Isolation & Purification Brochure
- Protocol Videos—Videos to help you isolate nucleic acids using a variety of techniques.
- DNA & RNA Selection Guide—Find the right purification products.
- Webinars—View our library of recorded nucleic acid isolation webinars.