Compositions for the isolation and/or stabilization of nucleic acids in biological materials

A method of stabilizing nucleic acids in a biological sample, the method comprising:

• mixing a storage stabilization composition with a solution containing the nucleic acids, wherein the composition comprises a cationic compound of the general formula
• Y+R1R2R3R4X−
• wherein Y represents nitrogen or phosphorus;
• R1, R2, R3 and R4, independently, represent a branched or unbranched C1-C20-alkyl group and/or a C6-C20-aryl group as well as a C6-C26-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 C2-C6-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;
• stabilizing the nucleic acids, wherein the nucleic acids are stabilized by forming an ionic complex with the cationic compound;
• optionally separating the insoluble ionic complex from the solution;
• and
• optionally releasing the nucleic acids from the insoluble ionic complex.