Quantification of DNA or RNA
Quantification of nucleic acids can be achieved via UV spectroscopy or via the use of fluorometry (in combination with DNA (PicoGreen) or RNA (RiboGreen)-binding dyes).
The NanoDrop instrument for UV quantification consumes only 1-2 ul of material, and provides a measure of DNA purity (260/280 and 260/230 ratios), but is not able to accurately quantify impure nucleic acids or DNA or RNA at concentrations below ≈ 10 ng/ul.
PicoGreen and RiboGreen quantification are therefore the gold standards for sensitive and specific quantification of DNA and RNA, respectively.
Questions
Please contact our QC team at umgc-qc@umn.edu for more information and questions regarding quantification.
Standard
| Service | Scale | Unit | UMN | External |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NanoDrop Quantification. | 1-any | sample | $0.36 | $0.41 |
| PicoGreen DNA Quantification. | ||||
| Standard scale. | 1-384 | sample | $2.30 | $2.96 |
| High scale. | 385-any | sample | $1.87 | $2.12 |
| RiboGreen RNA Quantification. | 1-any | sample | $4.60 | $5.29 |
Submission
NanoDrop Quantifiation, PicoGreen RNA Quantification, and RiboGreen RNA Quantification
Print and submit the completed submission form with your samples.
Please submit 4 ul of sample per assay in a 96-well plate (fill plate starting with A1-H1, A2-H2, etc.). Example: if requesting both NanoDrop and PicoGreen, please submit 8 ul of sample.
For NanoDrop submissions, please also provide 2 ul/sample blanking solution if other than water.
Forms
QC Submission Form – UMN researchers
Samples can be dropped off at one of our laboratory locations.
For RNA samples, please make sure samples are submitted directly to a UMGC staff member so that the samples are stored appropriately. DNA samples can be placed in the indicated freezer.
- 1-210 Cancer & Cardiovascular Research Building (Minneapolis campus) small freezer in the lobby.
- 28 Snyder Hall (St. Paul campus) – please drop off directly with UMGC staff. We have a fridge, not a freezer in Snyder 20.
Deliverables
An Excel report is emailed to client with sample IDs and concentrations.
FAQ
What is the turnaround time?
The UMGC guarantees a turnaround time of 3 days. Often results are sent out within 24 hours of sample submission.