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PCR Inhibitor Removal Using the NucleoSpin DNA Clean-Up XS Kit

NCJ Number
246365
Journal
Forensic Science International: Genetics Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2013 Pages: 209-213
Author(s)
Korie L. Faber; Eric C. Person; William R. Hudlow
Date Published
January 2013
Length
5 pages
Annotation
After optimizing the NucleoSpin DNA Clean-Up XS kit for the best possible DNA recovery, this study evaluated its ability to remove eight commonly encountered polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibitors, including: bile salt, collagen, hematin, humic acid, indigo, melanin, tannic acid, and urea.
Abstract
The study found that each of these PCR inhibitors was effectively removed by the NucleoSpin DNA Clean-Up XS kit, as demonstrated by its generating more complete STR profiles from the cleaned-up inhibitor samples than from the raw inhibitor samples. The kit contains a NucleoSpin XS silica column that has a special funnel design of thrust rings along with a very small silica membrane, which allows for sample elution in a small volume that is appropriate for use with current STR typing kits. The NucleoSpin DNA Clean-Up XS kit is useful, because forensic evidence samples are collected from an unlimited variety of substrates, which may contain compounds known to inhibit the PCR. These PCR inhibitors are co-extracted with the DNA sample and can negatively affect the DNA typing results, which can range from partial to complete inhibition of the short tandem repeat (STR) PCR. 3 figures, 2 tables, and 16 references