| abstract |
A reagent, method and container for the isolation of cellular components such as ribonucleic acid (RNA) from cells in a liquid solution. The container includes a cover assembly and a holder which is normally closed by the cover assembly and contains an RNA extractant solvent, micron-sized particles and at least one larger particle suitably of millimeter size. The container contains the reagent, which is an extractant solvent which contains phenol and guanidinium thiocyanate or guanidinium chloride and has a pH of about 4. The container also includes a friable sealing layer which separates the extractant solvent from the liquid medium containing the cells until the container is reciprocally shaken. The method includes the reciprocal shaking of the container, wherein the larger particle breaks the friable layer to permit mixing of the liquid medium with the extractant solvent resulting in the breaking of the cell walls by the micron-sized beads and the release of the RNA. |