What are the possible sources of amino acid contamination in a lab? - WKB124733

ENVIRONMENT

• Amino acid contamination
• source
• AAA
• AccQ-Tag 
• Kairos
• Pico-Tag
• AccQ-Fluor

ANSWER

Glycine can come from many sources, including low-purity HCl, skin, sugars, and materials/fibers. 

In addition, glycine is present in dust, avoid vents, and limit opening of vials (number of times and duration) and avoid powdered gloves.

Serine is most abundant on skin.

Aspartate and glutamate can come from paper (e.g., lab wipes).

Proline and hydroxyproline come from skin.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Amino acid and protein background contamination in a lab can be as high as 50 pmoles, so it is recommended that derivatization and analysis be conducted in a low-traffic, low-dust environment and that powder-free gloves be used and changed often.

Additional potential sources of contamination come from dirty glassware, Kim wipes, lab animals and Tobacco smoke.