Chemical Safety
Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) Alternatives
Ethidium bromide, long used as an inexpensive, sensitive, and stable dye for staining nucleic acids, is a potent mutagen, possible carcinogen and reproductive toxin with significant health risks for researchers. Its waste stream is cumbersome, time consuming and expensive.
EH&S strongly encourages researchers to use alternative DNA dyes and phase out ethidium bromide.
UCSD approved EtBr alternative DNA dyes
- SYBR® Nucleic Acid Stains
- EZ-Vision®
- GelRedTM & GelGreenTM
Benefits of switching to EtBr alternative DNA dyes
Eliminate multiple EtBr waste stream containers (gel, solid, liquid)
Using EtBr alternatives will significantly simplify your waste process, reduce hazardous waste costs, and help make UCSD a safe and more sustainable campus.
Eliminate the use of a potent mutagen and possible carcinogen and reproductive toxin
Using EtBr alternatives, which are non-cytotoxic and non-mutagenic, are considered to be safe for both the user and the environment.
Eliminate the need to create an EtBr HCP (Hazard Control Plan)
Using EtBr alternatives frees up valuable research time. It eliminates the need to write an EtBr HCP and time spent working in your faculty’s CHUA (Chemical Hazard Use Application).
CDC Article: "Alternate DNA Stains — Results and Recommendations"
Freeman, Molly. “ PulseNet: Under the Microscope Volume 2, Alternate DNA Stains: Results and Recommendations {PDF] ”. PulseNet International.
Paper Summary: The images below are part of a CDC PulseNet study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and resolution of multiple DNA dyes. A 15 well gel containing H9812, a Salmonella enterica standard, was stained for 30 minutes with an individual dye. The alternative dyes were immediately visualized, while the EtBr gel was de-stained with water. The gels were evaluated for stability on days 1, 2, and 7 after staining.
SYBR Safe stain
EtBr stain
SYBR Gold stain
GelRed stain
Questions or concerns? Contact your School Safety Officer at safetyofficer@biology.ucsd.edu or 858-333-9791.