The instrument assumes that all absorbance at 260nm is due to nucleic acids, meaning that contaminants like carbohydrates or phenol can artificially inflate concentration readings. It is also routinely used to assess the purity of extracted DNA and RNA, helping researchers determine if their samples are free from inhibitors.
Nanodrop Clinical Diagnostics Applications and Key Considerations
In the fast-paced world of molecular biology and biochemistry, the ability to quickly and accurately quantify nucleic acids is paramount. Because nucleic acids like DNA and RNA have a strong absorbance peak at 260 nanometers, this wavelength is used to calculate concentration.
The 320nm measurement is critical for detecting light scattering caused by particulates in the sample, which can skew results. Considerations and Limitations to Keep in Mind While the Nanodrop is a powerful tool, it is important to understand its limitations.
Nanodrop Clinical Diagnostics Applications and Key Considerations
Crucially, the ratio of absorbance at 260nm to 280nm (A260/A280) provides a quick snapshot of purity, indicating the presence of protein or phenol contamination. The resulting A260/A280 and A260/A320 ratios are then compared against established purity ranges to give an immediate quality assessment.
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