Simplified Buccal DNA Extraction with FTA Elute Cards

• NCJ Number: 226998
• Journal: Forensic Science International: Genetics Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 125-127
• Author(s): Eldamaria de Vargas Wolframm; Fernanda Magri de Carvalho; Vitor Rezende de Costa Aguiar; Mariana Penha De Nadai Sartori; Gabriela C.R. Hirschfeld-Campolongo; Weslley M. Tsutsumida; Iuri Drumond Louro
• Date Published: March 2009
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical); Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Ireland

Annotation

This study tested whether FTA Elute Cards were suitable for buccal DNA extraction, and several time and temperature conditions were analyzed in order to determine the best concentration/time ratio.

Abstract

The study findings show that FTA Elute Cards can be efficiently used with buccal samples. The analysis of drying and incubation conditions suggests that drying conditions have a greater influence on the overall extraction performance. Drying for 2 hours at room temperature resulted in good concentrations for all incubation times tested. Drying at 60 degrees C for 10 or 5 minutes resulted in similar patterns, showing that even a short high temperature drying time is enough to promote DNA binding to the FTA Elute Card. As expected, no drying resulted in low concentrations regardless of the incubation time. This corroborates the greater influence of drying over incubation conditions. FTA cards are designed to simplify the collection, shipment, archiving, and purification of nucleic acids, and classic cards have been successfully tested with a wide variety of biological samples. Classic FTA cards are impregnated with a patented chemical formula that lyses cell membranes and denatures proteins upon contact. Nucleic acids are physically entrapped, immobilized, and stabilized for storage at room temperature for several years, using minimal storage area. Such features eliminate the need for traditional multisite DNA extraction procedures, as well as the need for refrigeration and centrifugation equipment. FTA cards also protect the DNA from UV radiation damage, nucleases, oxidation, and microbial/fungal attack. For the current study, oral mucosa was collected from five healthy volunteers. Subjects scrubbed their inner cheeks with a wooden spatula and immediately transferred the collected material to the FTA Elute Card. Scrubbing was performed several times and repeatedly transferred to the card, saturating it with the biological material. 2 figures and 14 references