Patent ID: 7270953

Claim:
A nucleic acid storage stabilization composition for stabilizing nucleic acids in a biological sample, said stabilization composition comprising a cationic compound of the general formula: Y + R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 X − wherein Y represents nitrogen or phosphorus; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 independently, represent a branched or unbranched C 1 -C 20 -alkyl group and/or a C 6 -C 20 -aryl group as well as a C 6 -C 26 -aralkyl group; X − represents an anion of an inorganic or organic, mono- or polybasic acid; and at least one proton donor, wherein the proton donor is present in the composition in a concentration of above 50 mM to saturation and wherein the proton donor is selected from the group consisting of saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, unsaturated alkenyl-carboxylic acids, saturated and/or unsaturated aliphatic C 2 -C 6 -dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic hydroxyl-di- and tricarboxylic acids, aliphatic ketocarboxylic acids, amino acids or the inorganic acids or the salts thereof, on their own or in combination.