Compositions and methods for purifying nucleic acids from stabilization reagents

A method for isolating RNA from a test sample containing RNA, comprising:

• (a) contacting a pellet obtained from a test sample that is stabilized with a cationic detergent with a Solubilization Solution comprising a buffer at a concentration of 10-20 mM and at a pH between about 7 and 9, a base at a concentration of 20-50 mM, and an amphiphilic reagent to form a mixture;
• (b) subsequently contacting the mixture from step (a) with a Lysis Solution buffered at a pH of greater than about 7 to create an isolation sample, wherein the Lysis Solution comprises a lithium salt at a concentration between 3 and 10 M, a buffer, and an amphiphilic reagent, but is free of guanidinium salts and urea, wherein the Lysis Solution is different from the Solubilization Solution;
• (c) contacting the isolation sample to a solid support such that nucleic acids comprising RNA in the isolation sample bind to the solid support;
• (d) washing the solid support with one or more Wash Solutions to remove materials other than bound nucleic acids comprising RNA;
• and
• (e) eluting the bound RNA from the solid support in order to obtain RNA.