Nucleic acids on tap

DNA Research Innovations and Tecan UK have formed a partnership to provide fully automated nucleic acid purification for the clinical and research markets. The agreement allows Tecan UK to sell a range of DRI's Charge Switch Technology (CST) reagents on its automated robotic platforms for DNA extraction and purification.

Blood is one of the most readily available sources of DNA, especially for clinical and veterinary applications, but until now, DNA purification from whole blood has been a labour intensive and time consuming process with many steps and involving potentially hazardous chemicals.

DRI claims that its CST technology offers significant advantages over existing technologies. With no chaotropic agents, organic solvents, alcohols, or drying steps, the aqueous buffers retain the integrity of the sample DNA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibitors seen in the more traditional methods of purification are not used, resulting in more reliable PCR and longer sequencing read lengths.

under the terms of the latest agreement, some of DRI's CST Magnetic Beads will now be sold under the Tecan label with protocols written specifically for the Tecan MiniPrep, Genesis and Freedom Evo automated liquid handling systems. These include kits for the extraction of genomic DNA from blood and buccal cells and for the clean up of PCR fragments.

In addition, Tecan will also gain access to DRI's MagnaClear kits, which will be used to allow full automation of plasmid DNA purification directly from broth rather than a cell pellet.

"This totally eliminates the need for centrifugation and thereby significantly increases potential throughput,"​ said Tecan UK in a statement.