Urine Preservation

Figure 1. Stability of DNA in Norgen''s Urine Preservative. Norgen''s Urine Collection and Preservation Tubes contain Norgen''s Urine Preservative in a dried form. A 50 mL urine sample was collected into the Urine Collection and Preservation Tube (50 cc) and was mixed well with the dried preservative. The preserved urine was stored at -20°C, 4°C, room temperature and 55°C for up to 6 months. Urine DNA was subsequently isolated at time 0, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from the  preserved urine sample. The DNA isolated from the preserved urine samples stored at -20°C, 4°C, room temperature and 55°C at the various time points was used as the template in a real-time PCR reaction to detect the 5S gene. As it can be seen, all the DNA samples were successfully amplified. Furthermore, the quality of the preserved urine DNA stored at all 4 temperatures did not change from 0 months to 6 months, as indicated by the fact that the Ct value remained consistent. The urine samples stored at 55°C can allow us to extrapolate results based on accelerated-aging, and therefore the samples stored at 55°C for 6 months show equal stability to concentrated urine preserved for 2.5 years at room temperature (24°C). Therefore, based on the successful PCR results for samples stored at 55°C shown above, the DNA in urine samples stored in Norgen’s Urine Preservative is stable at room temperature for up to 2.5 years.

Figure 2. Stability of RNA in Norgen''s Urine Preservative. Norgen''s Urine Collection and Preservation Tubes contain Norgen''s Urine Preservative in a dried form. A 50 mL urine sample was collected into the Urine Collection and Preservation Tube (50 cc) and was mixed well with the dried preservative. The preserved urine was stored at -20°C, 4°C, room temperature and 55°C for up to 6 months. Urine RNA was subsequently isolated at time 0, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from the preserved urine sample. The RNA isolated from the preserved urine samples stored at -20°C, 4°C, room temperature and 55°C at the various time points was used as the template in a reverse-transcription real-time PCR reaction to detect the 5S gene. As it can be seen, all the RNA samples were successfully amplified. Furthermore, the quality of the preserved urine RNA stored at all 4 temperatures did not change from 0 months to 6 months, as indicated by the fact that the Ct value remained consistent. The urine samples stored at 55°C can allow us to extrapolate results based on accelerated-aging, and therefore the samples stored at 55°C for 6 months show equal stability to concentrated urine preserved for 2.5 years at room temperature (24°C). Therefore, based on the successful PCR results for samples stored at 55°C shown above, the RNA in urine samples stored in Norgen’s Urine Preservative is stable at room temperature for up to 2.5 years.

Figure 3. Stability of Proteins in Norgen''s Urine Preservative. Norgen''s Urine Collection and Preservation Tubes contain Norgen''s Urine Preservative in a dried form. A 50 mL urine sample was collected into the Urine Collection and Preservation Tube (50 cc) and was mixed well with the dried preservative.  The preserved urine was stored at -20°C, 4°C, room temperature and 55°C for up to 6 months. Urine proteins were subsequently isolated at time 0, 1 month, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from the preserved urine sample. The proteins isolated from the preserved urine samples stored at -20°C, 4°C, room temperature and 55°C at the various time points were qualitatively analyzed on 12% SDS-PAGE gel. As it can be seen, all the preserved urinary proteins showed no degradation. The urine samples stored at 55°C can allow us to extrapolate results based on accelerated-aging, and therefore the samples stored at 55°C for 6 months show equal stability to concentrated urine preserved for 2.5 years at room temperature (24°C). Therefore, the proteins in urine samples stored in Norgen’s Urine Preservative are stable at room temperature for up to 2.5 years