RNAlater™-ICE Frozen Tissue Transition Solution, 25 mL - FAQs

RNAlater-ICE Frozen Tissue Transition Solution can be used to submerge a frozen sample, then thaw it overnight at -20 degrees C or colder. Once thawed, tissues can then be processed like fresh tissues using standard RNA isolation procedures.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNA Sample Collection, Protection, and Isolation Support Center.

We do not recommend reusing RNAlater reagent or RNAlater ICE reagent.

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RNAlater Stabilization Solution and RNAlater-ICE Frozen Transition Solution are known to react with hypochlorite solutions, such as common bleach. The reaction releases chlorine gas and generates heat. A similar reaction may occur with other oxidizing agents. If you suspect that samples may contain bleach or other oxidizing reagents, we recommend working in a fume hood with adequate protective clothing and equipment.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNA Sample Collection, Protection, and Isolation Support Center.

A different product, RNAlater-ICE reagent, is used with samples that are already frozen. RNAlater-ICE reagent transitions tissue from a frozen to a non-frozen state. The frozen tissue is simply placed in RNAlater-ICE reagent and left at -20 degrees C overnight. Treated tissues can then be used directly in standard homogenization and isolation protocols and processed like fresh tissue.
RNAlater reagent and RNAlater-ICE reagent provide flexibility for sample collection and storage, and help ensure that high quality RNA is preserved in samples. Both are available in a variety of convenient sizes.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNA Sample Collection, Protection, and Isolation Support Center.

Samples in RNAlater reagent can safely be shipped on wet ice for several days. For longer shipping times use dry ice.

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Tissue stored in RNAlater reagent is compatible with all commonly used RNA isolation methods, including single reagent isolation products like TRIzol reagent, and all of our Ambion RNA isolation kits. It is also possible to extract both genomic DNA and total protein from samples stored in RNAlater reagent. RNAlater reagent will denature proteins, so it is only compatible with routine protein analyses such as western blotting and 2D gel electrophoresis that do not require native protein.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNA Sample Collection, Protection, and Isolation Support Center.

RNAlater reagent has been successfully tested with many different tissues, (including brain, heart, kidney, liver, skeletal muscle, fat, lung) and cell types (E. coli, Drosophila, cultured mammalian cells, and some plant cells). RNAlater reagent can also be used to store anticoagulated whole blood or the white blood cell fraction of whole blood. Ambion RiboPure-Blood RNA Isolation Kit incorporates RNAlater reagent and provides instructions on how best to use RNAlater reagent with blood.

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Processing samples that were stored in RNAlater reagent is much easier than using frozen samples. Frozen samples must be ground to a powder and then the frozen powder must be transferred to a tube for homogenization. This procedure is laborious, messy, risks loss of sample, and perhaps most importantly, may lead to sample thawing, which can compromise RNA integrity. Samples stored in RNAlater reagent are protected from RNases as long as the tissue remains in the solution, and they can typically be disrupted using the simpler methods appropriate for freshly collected samples (grinding in liquid nitrogen is only required for extremely hard or tough tissues such as bone or tumor tissue). Thus, in addition to making sample disruption easier, storage in RNAlater reagent eliminates the risks of sample loss and mess due to transferring or thawing frozen powdered tissue.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNA Sample Collection, Protection, and Isolation Support Center.

For fresh tissue, simply cut samples to a maximum thickness of 0.5 cm in any one dimension and submerge in 5 volumes of RNAlater reagent.

Cultured cells should be pelleted, resuspended in a small volume of PBS, then mixed with 5-10 volumes of RNAlater reagent.

Once in RNAlater reagent, samples can be stored for up to 1 day at 37 degrees C, 1 week at 25 degrees C, 1 month or more at 4 degrees C, and long-term at -20 degrees C or -80 degrees C.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNA Sample Collection, Protection, and Isolation Support Center.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our RNA Sample Collection, Protection, and Isolation Support Center.

RNAlater-ICE does not lyse the cells and the nucleus should stay intact. The reagent works primarily through protein denaturation. With proper cytoplasmic and nuclear fraction separation, you should be able to isolate the cytoplasmic RNA.