Automated purification of DNA from large samples: A study of effectiveness and labor efficiency

Investigations into the underlying genetic contributions to human disease are transitioning from small family-based traditonal linkage analyses to large population-based studies designed to identify genetic factors in more complex and common diseases that have the greatest impact on human health. These types of studies have driven the need for large numbers of samples for analysis and more efficient and effective methods for DNA purification, especially for large samples that provide sufficient quantities of DNA for extensive analysis. The AUTOPURE LS™ Nucleic Acid Purification Instrument, by Gentra Systems, Inc., a platform capable of high-throughput sample purification from large samples, was developed to meet the demands of these large studies. This article presents data demonstrating the equivalency of DNA purified using the AUTOPURE LS automated instrument and the manual method based on the same purification process. In addition, we present data demonstrating the in-lab time savings realized by automating the purification process.