Random Decamers are the same primers currently included in the RETROscript™ Kit (Cat. No. AM1710). They are provided at a stock concentration of 50 μM, and are functionally tested using the RETROscript™ Kit.

Using random primers
Generally, reverse transcription reactions are primed with one of the following types of primers: random sequence oligonucleotides, oligo(dT), or an oligonucleotide that can hybridize with the specific RNA under study. The type of first-strand primer used for reverse transcription is mostly based on user preference. For cDNA library construction or cDNA labeling applications, oligo(dT) is almost always used to prime cDNA synthesis, so that the cDNA will start at the poly(A) tail. The greatest yield of RT product is usually obtained by using short random oligonucleotides to prime the reverse transcription, but this yield advantage may not be seen after the PCR step. When template is limiting, final RT-PCR yield may be somewhat higher when the reverse transcription is primed with random primers as opposed to oligo(dT) or gene-specific primers.