Patent ID: 8519125

Claim:
A matrix for substantially dry storage of a biological sample, comprising: (a) a borate composition which comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boric acid, boric anhydride, dihydrogen borate, hydrogen borate, diborate, triborate, tetraborate, metaborate, hydroxoborate (borax), borate salt, boric acid-glycerol and boric-acid-1,3 propanediol; (b) at least one stabilizer that is selected from the group consisting of: wherein R 1 is CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3 , and wherein when X is CH, Y is H or OH, and when X is CH 2 —CH, Y is H; (iv) a compound of formula IV: wherein R 1 is selected from aryl, arylaklyl, —H, —CH 3 —CH 2 —CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 2 OH, CH 2 CHOHCH 3 , CH 2 CHOHCH 2 OH, and CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH, wherein X is selected from —CH 2 —, —CH 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CHOH, —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —, CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 , CH 2 CHOHCH 2 and —CH 2 CHOHCHOHCH 2 —, wherein Y is selected from COO − and SO 3 − , and wherein Z is selected from —CH 2 —, —CHOH—, O and S; (vi) a compound of formula VI: wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently selected from aryl, arylakyl, —H, —CH 3 —-CH 2 —CH 3 , —CH 2 CH 2 OH, CH 2 CHOHCH 3 , CH 2 CHOHCH 2 OH, and CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH; wherein the borate composition and the stabilizer are present at a molar ratio that is selected from a molar ratio of from about 10:1 to about 1:10, a molar ratio of from about 5:1 to about 1:5, and a molar ratio of from about 20:1 to about 1:20, and wherein the matrix is capable of preventing degradation of an isolated DNA fragment of at least 10 kilobases during substantially dry storage of the DNA fragment in the matrix at 85° C. for a time period of at least two weeks.