Wicking of Sample - DNA Gel Electrophoresis

[differentiate]

Hi everyone,

I am having issues with wicking of sample out of gels while I am loading them.

We use reaction volumes of 25uL, with 3uL of 10X Loading Dye. We pipette 18 uL into our gels, leaving a surplus of 7uL unused.

Occasionally (and what seems like randomly), we experience a wicking of the samples out of the wells PRIOR to turning on the gel boxes, and prior to connecting the wires to the power source.

Ideas concerning voltage problems are out, and it seems unlikely that loading dye concentration is the problem, considering the wicking is not reproduceable even within a couple of hours of the problem occuring.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions about what may be causing this problem, and how to deal with it!?

Thanks so much!

[amberpdidit]

My first guess is Ethanol contaminant of your sample. In my experience, even a tiny amount of residual ethanol (say from a purification or precipitation) causes your sample to diffuse out of the gel. This may also explain why it appears random.

good luck