UV Exposure from Transilluminators | PennEHRS (2024)

FAQs

What is the UV light from a Transilluminator used for? ›

UV-transilluminators use ultraviolet radiation (UVR) to visualize proteins, DNA, RNA, and their precursors in a gel electrophoresis procedure.

High intensities of UVB light are hazardous to the eyes, and exposure can cause welder's flash (photokeratitis or arc eye) and may lead to cataracts, pterygium, and pinguecula formation. Eye damage in less than 35 seconds exposure.

Transilluminators emit very intense UV light in the actinic range (200-315 nm) and will cause severe eye and skin burns if sufficient protective measures are not taken. Appropriate PPE would include gloves, lab coat with no gap between the cuff and the glove, and a UV resistant face shield.

There are no regulations in the U.S. that establish limits on UV exposure in the workplace, but the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has issued Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for occupational exposure to UV established guidelines that are widely used; ACGIH recommends that exposure not ...

The main usage of a UV transilluminator is in the visualization of protein and DNA polyacrylamide and agarose gels after the process of electrophoresis. It is used for gel electrophoresis, protein fluorescence, and gel fluorescence. It is predominantly used when ethidium bromide is used as a fluorescent tag.

Research laboratories commonly use fluorescent DNA stains because they are extremely sensitive, making it easy to quantify small amounts of DNA. In order to visualize the DNA fragments, an ultraviolet (UV) light source (such as a transilluminator) is used to excite the fluorescent molecules.

Using the Transilluminator

It is recommended to place the gels on a Gel-Tray to protect the filter surface from cuts and scratches. It is recommended that gloves be worn to avoid contact with gel and staining agents. Press the ON/OFF switch to ON. The UV tubes within the unit should be glowing beneath the filter.

The exposure of UVR, IR, and certain genotoxic chemicals may result in single as well as double DNA strand breaks. Among different types of damages, DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are the most deleterious, since they affect both strands of DNA and can lead to the loss of genetic material.

Proper protective equipment such as gloves, faceshields, safety glasses and lab coats must be worn when working with transilluminators. See EHRS's Ultraviolet Radiation Laboratory Safety Fact Sheet for more information on how to safety work with devices that produce UV radiation.

What is the maximum permissible exposure for UV light? ›

Exposure Limit Values for the Skin and Eye

… for broadband UV light sources the UV light effective radiant exposure (Heffmax) must not exceed 30 J/m² eff within an 8 hour period per day.

An ultra-violet (UV) transilluminator is a standard piece of equipment used in life science laboratories for visualization of target DNAs and proteins. Sometimes referred to as a gel light box or lab light box, the UV transilluminator works by emitting high levels of UV radiation through the viewing surface.

UV flashlights can reveal urine stains caused by all household pets. So next time you're cleaning give your floors and furniture a quick scan to locate all hidden stains. Auto Leak Detector: Have a refrigerant leak in your car's air conditioning compressor?

As DNA is not visible to the naked eye, an intercalating dye such as ethidium bromide (EtBr) is incorporated in the gel during setting. This binds the DNA and fluoresces under UV light, allowing the DNA fragments to be visualized.

UVA (and also UVB) radiation cause indirect damage to DNA via absorption of photons by non-DNA chromophores. This generates reactive oxygen species like singlet oxygen or hydrogen peroxide that oxidize the DNA bases causing mutations.