How long is RNA stable at room temperature?

RNA is very unstable at room temperature, as it gets degraded within half an hour. RNA in the open air at room temperature is prone to degradation from the dust particles harboring micro-organisms. The activity of the RNases are temperature sensitive and it is generally advised to keep the RNA sample on ice while working. In order to prevent degradation, RNA samples are generally stored frozen at −20 °C or −80 °C or under liquid nitrogen. For short storage, RNA in water or TE buffer may be stored at -80°C (up to 1 year) For long term storage, RNA samples may be stored at -20°C as ethanol precipitates.