Method of making a formulation for deactivating nucleic acids

1. A method of making a formulation for deactivating nucleic acids, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) separately dissolving solid forms of a corrosion-inhibiting agent and a wetting agent, the corrosion-inhibiting agent being phosphate, borate or sodium bicarbonate, and the wetting agent being a detergent or a surfactant;

(b) combining together the dissolved forms of the corrosion-inhibiting agent and the wetting agent to form a first mixture;

(c) combining together the first mixture with a solubilizing agent to form a second mixture, the solubilizing agent being an organic solvent or an emulsifying agent; and

(d) combining together the second mixture and a deactivating agent to form the formulation, the deactivating agent being sodium hypochlorite or dichloroisocyanurate,

wherein the corrosion-inhibiting agent is present in the formulation at a concentration of from about 10 mM to about 750 mM;

wherein the wetting agent is present in the formulation at a concentration of from about 0.005% to about 1% (w/v);

wherein the solubilizing agent is present in the formulation at a concentration of from about 0.001% to about 20% (v/v);

wherein the deactivating agent is (i) present in the formulation at a concentration of from about 0.06% to about 3% (w/v) if the deactivating agent is sodium hypochlorite;

wherein the deactivating agent is present in the formulation at a concentration of from about 5 mM to about 400 mM if the deactivating agent is dichloroisocyanurate; and

wherein each agent of the formulation remains substantially in solution at 22° C.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the corrosion-inhibiting agent is sodium bicarbonate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wetting agent is sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), lithium lauryl sulfate (LLS), saponin, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), or a polyoxyethylene detergent.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wetting agent is SDS or LLS.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solubilizing agent is an organic solvent.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the organic solvent is benzyl acetate, polysorbate 20 (PS20), or isopropanol.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solubilizing agent is an emulsifying agent.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the emulsifying agent is polyoxyethylene sortitan mono-palmitate, lecithin, or ethylene glycol distearate.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solubilizing agent is a fragrance.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deactivating agent is sodium hypochlorite.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deactivating agent is dichloroisocyanurate.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dissolving a solid form of the solubilizing agent prior to step (c).

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of dissolving a solid form of the deactivating agent prior to step (d).