Description:
As a pre-requisite for the analysis of viral nucleic acids by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or RT-PCR the isolation of the analyte from serum, plasma or whole blood is required. Virus lysis is accomplished by incubation of the sample in a special Lysis/Binding buffer in the presence of Proteinase K. Subsequently, nucleic acids bind specifically to the surface of glass fibers in the presence of a chaotropic salt. The binding reaction occurs within seconds due to the disruption of the organized structure of water molecules and the interaction of nucleic acids with the glass fibers surface. Thus, adsorption to the glass fiber fleece is favored. Since the binding process is specific for nucleic acids, the bound nucleic acids are purified from salts, proteins and other impurities by a washing step and are eluted in low salt buffer or water.
