Methods for storage of sequencing gels and stored sequencing gels used

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is to provide methods for the storage of electrophoresis gels, particularly, electrophoresis gels adapted for polynucleotide sequencing. The invention provides numerous methods of preparing a packaged electrophoresis gel or gel assembly. The subject methods include the steps of inserting an electrophoresis gel or gel assembly into the interior chamber of a storage container, removing air from the interior chamber, and hermetically sealing the storage container so as to provide a sealed package containing an electrophoresis gel in a reduced atmospheric environment. Preferably, the interior chamber is flushed with an inert gas prior to the sealing process. Another aspect of the invention is to provide packaged electrophoresis gels. The packaged electrophoresis gels include a hermetically sealed storage container having an interior chamber. The interior chamber contains a gel or gel assembly suitable for electrophoresis. The interior chamber of the storage container encloses a reduced atmospheric environment. Additionally, the interior chamber preferably contains a buffer solution. The storage container may comprise two sheets of flexible polymer which are fused to one another at or near the perimeter so as to form an interior chamber.