Background

Nucleic acid purification typically consists of a lysis step to release nucleic acids from a sample, the binding of the nucleic adds to a solid matrix, the washing of the matrix to remove contaminating substances and the eiuten of the nucleic adds from the matrix in a buffer. The process is complex, particularly in the washing of the matrix In the removal of contaminants. Solutions must be added to the matrix which will remove contaminants but not the nucleic acids and then these solutions must be removed prior to the elution of trie nucleic acids from the matrix. If magnetic particles are used as the solid matrix, they typically must be captured after the binding step, separated from the lysis-binding solution, either by capture and removal of the particles from the solution or by immobilization of the particles and removal of the lysis-binding solution, and then released into a wash solution. Following the wash the particles must be captured again and separated from the wash solution. See, e.g., AJderton, R. P„ _. ef a/„ Anal. Bioehem. (1992) 201:168-168 and WO 91/00212. Some protocols require several wash steps using several different wash solutions. After the particles have been washed, they must be re-suspended In an eiuiion buffer to release the nucleic acids from the particles. Further, these procedures are often not selective for nucleic acids, Rather, a variety of solid and dissolved substances are agglutinated as well.

Other protocols require the precipitation of the nucleic acid with, for example, ethanol, The precipitated nucleic acid must then be washed and resoiubiiized.

Chromatographic procedures also exist for the isolation of nucleic acid (see, e.g.. EP 0858 164) but these procedures also require multiple steps and washes.

The prior ad SCODA (Synchronous Coefficient of Drag Alteration system by-

Boreal Genomics, inc. (Los Altos, OA) uses a pulsed electronic field to focus nucleic acids into a point but this is typically prs-puried material thai may be very dilute. The oil-gate system developed by Kelso at Northwestern University (Sun et aL Immiscible Phase Nucleic Add Purification Eliminates PGR inhibitors with a Single Pass of Paramagnetic Particle through a Hydrophobic Liquid, J. oi. Diag. 2012 12{S):620-628) drags the particles through oil to try to eliminate washing but the method resulted in substantial salt carry over because the oil left a large droplet of lysis solution around the particles which resulted In a great deal of sail carryover. Thus, additional processing was necessary when using this system. It can be seen thai the methods for the isolation/purification of nucleic acids that are considered state of the art have certain disadvantages. Such disadvantages relate to, e,g _> purity, selectivity-, recovery rate, laboratory safety and convenience, as well as to the speed of the isolation/purification process. In other words, known prior art procedures require multiple steps and often result in loss of target nucleic acid due to numerous steps and/or alteration Of target nucleic add (for .example, loss of modifying groups due to repeated harsh treatment conditions).

Thus. _, t e problem to be solved is to provide 3 simpler procedure for isolating nucleic acids from a sample that will save time and reagents and help prevent the loss of target and/or modification of the target during processing.

Summar of the inve tion

The invention relates to the use of a gel to separate the lysis-binding solution from an eiution buffer. Particles are used to capture nucleic acids, in the lysis-binding solution. The particles are magnetic and are concentrated using a magnetic field. Specifically, the particles are drawn by a magnetic field through a gel that removes contaminants, and the concentrated particles are re-suspended In an eiution buffer. The process is extremely simple. The gel separates the lysis-binding solution from the eiution buffer and limit or eliminates mixing between the two. The movement of the particles through the gel removes contaminants and salts. Contaminants are removed by the passage through the gel ( ,e. ₅ they are "squeegeed ⁸ out). Salts are diluted out by passing through the gel. The particles the pass directly into the eiution buffer where the nucleic acids are released. The magnetic particles can then be drawn back into the gel or separated from the eiution buffer by oentrifugat!on or settling (gravity). This process has been shown to successfully purify HCY viral RNA from a plasma sample using a real-time PG assay to detect the hepatitis C virus (HCV viral) RNA.

The present invention contemplates a method of removing lysis buffer components from a nucleic acid sample, the method comprising: providing a specimen comprising or suspected of comprising nucleic acids, contacting the specimen with one or more lysis reagents, contacting the specimen with a solid substrate for a length of time and under conditions suitable for nucleic acids In the specimen to bind to the solid substrate and causing the solid substrate bound with nucleic acids, if nucleic acid Is present in the specimen, to pass through an aqueous-based separation gel. The present method is useful when the lysis buffer contain salts in a concentration greater than about 1 molar. The solid substrate may be a microparticie and the nitcropaiticfe may be from about 0, 1 nm to about 5 nm in diameter or from about 0.8 nm to about 5 nm In diameter. Further, the microparticie ay fee magnetic.

The present invention further contemplates that the nucleic acids bound to the solid substrate are contacted with an elution buffer after passing through the aqueous gel which elutes nucleic acids from the solid substrate. Further still the nucleic acids are not precipitated in an organic solvent or the nucleic acids may be precipitated in an organic solvent and the organic solvent may be ethanol or any other suitable organic solvent.

The present invention further contemplates that the nucleic acids bound to the solid substrate are contacted with an enzyme after passing through the aqueous gel, either before or after elution from the solid substrate. The enz me may be a DMA polymerase or a reverse transcriptase, f urther still, the nucleic acid may be sequenced on the solid substrate without dilution.

The present invention further contemplates that the nucleic acids bound to the solid substrate ma he contacted with bisulfite after passing through the aqueous gel such that unmethylated oytosines are deaminated. The present invention further contemplates that at least one nucleic base in the nucleic acid may have an epigenetic modification.

The _. present Invention still further contemplates that the nucleic acid may be bound to the solid substrate via an entity selected from the group consisting of nucleic acid hybridization, an apiaroer, an antibody, an antibody fragment, biotln, av!din. and

streptavidln.

The present invention contemplates a method for enriching nucleic acids from a sample, the method comprising: providing; a sample suspected of comprising nucleic acids, micropartscles suitable for bindi g nucleic acids, and an aqueous-based separation gel, contacting the sample with the micro particles for a length of time and under conditions suitable for any nucleic acids In the sample to bind to the magnetic micropartic!es to create loaded magnetic mieroparticles; drawing the loaded mieroparticles through the aqueous- based separation gel with a magnetic field. Th gel may be an agarose gel. The agarose gel may he at a concentration of about 0.10 % to about 1.0 %. The separating gel may also comprise one of more of ethanol and glycerol. The particles may also comprise a functional grou suitable for binding nucleic acid. Si is further contemplated that the microparticles may be magnetic and the mag etic microparticies are, optionally at least partly coated with one or more of silica and glass, The magnetic microparticies may be spheroid although any shape is contemplate as being suitable in the present invention.

it is further contemplated that the sample may comprise lysis buffer.

Description of the Figures

Figure 1 (A ~ F) shows an exemplification of the method of the present invention as described in the Examples.

Figure 2 shows (A) DMA amplification curves of target nucleotide sequences purified by the methods of the present invention as detailed in Example 2 and {8} interna; controls.

Figure 3 shows (A) DMA amplification curves of target nucleotide sequences purified by the methods of the present Invention as detailed in Example 2 and {8} internal controls. Detailed Description of the invention

The present methods -are directed toward a one-step isolation and purification method of nucleic acids.. The method is simple and easily performed by one of ordinary skill in the art. The method involves adding to a lysis solution (lysis solutions are known to those of ordinary skill in the art) and a solid substrate that binds nucleic acid (for example, iron oxide particles, magnetic particie^magnetic particles that are at least partly coated with glass, silica or the like, etc.), Nucleic acids present will bind the particles. The particles are than drawn through an aqueous gel (e.g., an agarose gel although any gel compatible with nucleic acids, for example an SDS aeryiamlde gel, would be suitable) with, in the case of magnetic particles, a magnetic source (I.e. , a magnet) positioned outside of the assay vessel. The action of drawing the particles through the gel removes (i.e., "squeegees' ^" ) non- soluble contaminants and dilutes soluble contaminants (e.g. , salts). The particles enter an elution buffer after leaving the gel. The nucleic acid is released In the elution buffer. The magnetic particles can then be drawn hack into the gel or allowed to settle out (or centrifuged cut after removal of the elution buffer from the gel surface). The method is typically performed in a tube wherein the gei is layered over the lysis buffer and the elution buffer is layered over the gel, Optionally, a non-eluting buffer can be layered over the gel and the nucleic acids eluted from the particles at a later time, if desired. The elution buffer may or may not comprise an organic solvent (such as ethanoi). Typical lysis buffers comprise sails. Salts typically found in lysis buffers Include, but are not limited to guanidsnium ihiocyanate (GITC) (typical range of 0.6 to 4,0 M , NaCi (typical range of up to 0, 1 and 10.5 M), Lysis buffers also typically contain a buffer (for example, Tris-HC!; typical concentration of about 25 mM, about pH 7 to about pH 8, or other suitable butter known to one of ordinary skill in the art) and detergents (for example, NP- 0, TweetV ^?v1 , Tnton ^i¾» X, poiysorbates, deoxychelate, sodium deoxyehoiate and sodium dodecy! sulfate (SOS); concentrations typically used range from about 0.1 % to about 2.0 %),

The present invention is not limited to any specific sample or sample type. For example, sample materials may include bodily fluids including plasma, serum, blood, spinal fluid, semen, vaginal fluids, sputum and saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, lymphatic ^, fluid and digestive fluids. Other sample materials may include isolated or enriched ceil populations and tissues, Samples may be fresh or fixed (preserved). Fixed samples may be embedded (for example, paraffin embedded). Further, samples may be obtained from aroheological digs, i.e., prehistoric tissues such as bones may yield nucleic acids that can be enriched or isolated by the methods of the present invention. Certain sample types may require pretreatmenf to. for example, concentrate the sample (by, for example, eenirifugation of suspended cells or break apart large sample sources (for example, grinding of bones or digestive breakdown of tissues). Such pretreatments are primary to obtain starting materials that are more easily workable by the methods of the present invention .

The gels used In the present invention may be at a concentration of about 0.1 % to about 1.0 %. about 0.15 % to aboiA 0 ?S %, about 0.2 % to about 0,50 %.

In the present specification it is understood that the term "a nucleic acid" denotes at least one nucleic acid, furthermore, the term % nucleic acid" also may indicate a mixture of ^• nucleic acids. The term "nucleic acid" encompasses RHA. DMA, or both. Further, as used herein, "nucleic acid" or " A" refers to both a deoxyribonucleic acid, and a ribonucleic acid. As used herein , "nucleic acid sequence" refers to the order or sequence of

deoxyribonucieotides or ribonucleotides along a strand. They may be natural or artificial sequences and, in particular, genomic DMA (gP A), complementary ONA (cDNA), messenger RHA (mR A). transfer NA (tRNA), ribosoroal RMA (rRMA), hybrid sequences or synthetic or semisynthetic sequences or oligonucleotides which are modified or contain modified bases. These nucleic acids may be of human, animal, plant, bacterial or viral origin and the like. They may be obtained by any technique known to persons skilled in the art, and in particular by cell lysis, the screening of libraries, by chemical synthesis or by mixed methods including the chemical or enzymatic modification of sequences obtained by the screening of libraries. They may be chemically modified,, e.g. they may foe pseudonucleic acids (PNA), oligonucleotides modified by various chemical bonds (for example

pbosphorothloate or methyl phosphorate), or alternatively oligonucleotides which are funefionalteed, e.g., which are coupled with one or more molecules having distinct characteristic properties.

The methods of the present Invention may be altered to specifically isolate or enrich either DMA or RNA. For example, the use non-costed iron oxide as a capture pariicie would be selective for RNA, Silica particles or silica coated particles, for example, would he specific for DNA. However, if you make the lysis buffer 33% ethanol, silica particles, for example, will bind both DNA and RNA for total nucleic acids Isolation or enrichment.

The term "substrate" denotes a substance which is substantially insoluble in an a ueous solution and on which a nucleic acid in an aqueous solution (of high ionic strength) can adsorb when the substance is added. The term "substrate" encompasses magnetically attractable particles and magnetically attractable particles such as uncoated iron oxide or coated with, for example, silica, glass, quartz or zeolites. However, the substrate need not he magnetic. Further, the particles may comprise functional groups suitable for binding nucleic acids. Examples of such functional groups include but are not limited to proteins (or functional portions thereof) , antibodies (or functional portions thereof), chemical linkers (e.g., avidin, streptavidin, via nucleic acid hybridization, an aptarner, biofln, etc.). Thus, the nucleic aqid need not be bound directly to the substrate but may be bound via one or more entities, as described herein or as are known to one of ordinary skill In the art. Further, nonmagnetic particles may be caused to pass though the aqueous-based gel by, for example, cenirifug alien (e.g., low speed centrifugaficn), in this embodiment, it is contemplated that the elutlon buffer (or saline, etc.) would be at bottom of the tube with the gel layered over the elutlon buffer and the lysis buffer on top of the gel. The force of the centrifug alien would pull the particles down though the gel Into the elutlon buffer, in another embodiment, the tube Is set up as with using a magnetic force (lysis buffer on bottom, elutlon buffer on top) and the tube is capped and inverted before centofugation. Further, other means for moving the lctoparticies though the gel are contemplated. For example, charged particles may be drawn through the gel by eiectrophoretic-iype methods. Further still, If the particles are allowed to settle (or centrifuged to the level of the gel) and the lysis buffer is removed, the mlcroparticies can be pushed through the gel with a device similar to a French press.

The substrate can be of any shape including, but not limited to, spherical, elliptical, oblong, rod shaped, spiral and amorphous. The substrate of the present invention is not limited by size but is preferably about 0.2 mm or less, 0.02 mm or less, 2.0 pm or less, 200 nm or less, 20 nm or less and 2 nm or less in the largest diameter. The substrate of the present invention may also be about 0.1 nm to about 5 nm and may be about 0 8 nm to about 5 nm In diameter. Further it is understood that a substrate, when dispersed in a liquid phase such as an aqueou solution, may produce a suspension or may settle out of ^" the solution.

The terms "high ionic strength" and "high concentration" mean the ionic strength or concentration in an aqueous solution that results from dissolved salts in concentrations equal to or greater than about 1 . Typically sails are present in the aqueous solution i concentrations of 1 to 10 M, Mo e typical are chaotropic salts in concentrations of 1 to 8 . in a preferred embodiment.- the lysis buffer of the present invention has a salt concentration of greater than about 1 M.

The terms low ionic strength" and ow concentration" mean the ionic strength or concentration In an aqueous solution that results from dissolved salts in concentrations less than about 1 M.

The terms "magnetic ^" and "magnetic particiefs)" shall refer to objects made from a material that is magnetized and/or creates its own persistent magnetic field, Although any suitable material as is known to one of ordinary skill In the art is contemplated for use In this invention:; Iron-based materials (e.g.. iron oxide) or material in which comprise iron oxide are most frequently contemplated, in the present invention the magnetic particles

(multifunctional magnetic particles; Mf lP) form a substrate and. while not limited by size, are preferably about 0,2 mm or less, 0,02 mm or less, .2,0 m or less, 200 nm or less. 20 nm or less and 2 nm or less in the largest diameter, i a preferred embodiment of the present invention , the magnetic particles of the present invention are coated at least partly with glass, silica or one or more substances known to one of ordinary skill in the art to bind nucleic acids. Micro- and nano-srzed magnetic particles are commercially available to one of ordinary skill in the art (eg., Promega Corp... Madison, l: Life Technologies, Grand isle. NY; Bangs Laboratories, Fishers, IN). Further, particles can be synthesized in the lab by one of ordinary skill in the art, see, for example, Starmans LW, et aL Iron Oxide

Nanopam¾le~Miceiies (iO -Micelles) for Sensitive (Molecular) Magnetic Particle imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, PLoS One, Epub 2013 Feb 20, ;8i2}e57335; Heitsch, Andrew T.. et a!.. Multifunctional Particles: Magnetic Nanoerystais and Gold Nanorods Coated with Fluorescent Dye-Doped Silica Shells, Solid State Chem. 2008 July; 181(7); 1500-1009,

iVy¾¾5«K; 1; Methods and reagents for lysing ceils and tissues for the extraction of nucleic acids a e well known by those or ordinary skill in the art and any method that does not destroy the nucleic adds of the sample are suitable for use by the present invention. Further, nucleic acids suitable for isolation and purification by the present method may he obtained from 5 fixed samples (e.g., formalin or glutaral ehyde fixed samples), embedded samples (e.g., paraffin embedded samples) and from reaction vessels containing solutions or suspensions of synthesized nucleic acids.

Nucleic acids enriched, isolated or purified by the methods of the present in ention may be used in any conventional method known to those of ordinary skill In the art because

10 the methods of the present invention do not alter the nucleic aesds in any way that may be detrimental to their subsequent use. For example, the nucleic acids may be sequenced, amplified by PGR, used in expression vectors, etc. in this regard, the nucleic acids may be contacted with enzymes such as. for example, a DN.A polymerase or a reverse transcriptase after passing through the aqueous gel Further, this invention contemplates that ths nucleic

I S acid is sequenced on the solid substrate without dilution, further, this invention

contemplates that the nucleic acids bound to the solid substrate are contacted with bisulfite after passing through the aqueous gel such that unmeihylated cytoslnes are deaminated. Further, this invention contemplates that at least one nucleic base in the nucleic acid has an epigenetic modification,

0 Kits

The present invention also contemplates kits wherein the kits contain gel solutions and/or gel ingredients (as exemplified below or equivalents as could be determined by one of ordinary skill In the art without undue experimentation), magnetic particles suitable for binding nucleic acids and instructions. Optionally, vials, reaction solutions and other items 5 could be provided in a kit of the present invention for specific uses (e.g. , the isolation of RNAs) and/or o aid the user with regard to performing the procedure.

All patents, st i application publications, journal articles, textbooks, and other publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those In the art to which the disclosure pertains. All such publications are Incorporated herein by 0 reference to the same extent as if each individual publication were specifically and

individually indicated to be incorporated by referenc

The invention illustratively described herein may be suitably practiced in the absence of any eiement(s) or iimifation{s), which is/are not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, each instance herein of any of the terms "comprising/ ¹ "consisting essentially of," and "consisting of may be replaced with either of the other two terms. Likewise, the singular forms "a," ^iS an," and "the" include plural references unless the context dearly dictates otherwise, Thus, for example, references to 'the method" includes one or more methods and/or steps of the type, which are described herein and/or which will become apparent to those ordinaril skilled In the art upon reading the disclosure.

The terms and expressions, which have been employed, are used as terms of description and not of limitation. In this regard, where certain terms are defined under herein and are otherwise defined, described, or discussed elsewhere In the "Detailed Description" or elsewhere in this specification, all such definitions, descriptions end discussions are intended to be attributed to such terms. There also is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof.

It is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed invention. Thus, it should be understood that, although the present invention has been specifically disclosed in the context of preferred embodiments and optional features, those skilled in the art may resort to modifications and variations of the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the Invention as defined by the appersded claims, Exemplification

Example 1

The concept of the present invention Is that nucleic acids can be easily purified from, for example, cell lysates or other cellular sample, by binding the nucleic add to magnetic particles and then drawing the particles though a viscous, aqueous gel or gel solution. The first test was to see if th gei can reduce the salt level in a nucleic acid-free sample,

A 1 % gel was made as follows, SO ml of water (ONase and Nase free water) was mixed with 0,5 g Agarose-LE (Amblon #9040, although any commercially available agarose should be workable). The agarose was melted in the water in a microwave oven (although any suitable heat source will work) to make a 1 % agarose solution and placed on a temp block (i.e., a heat block) set at 55 °G to keep the gel melted.

The !ysis-ethano! solution was made as using 70 m! of a guanidine tblocyanate

GITC) containing lysis buffer (the lysi buffer having greater than 3M GITC, greater than 1 % non-ionic detergent and with a pH above 7,0; or any lysis buffer suitable for the tissue or sample being processed that preserves nucleic acids) and _. 35 ml of 95% ethanol

1 mi of the lysis huffer-eihanoi solution was added to a 12 mm X 75 mm

polypropylene tube along with 0.5 il of water to represent a sample addition. SO microliters of silica coated magnetic microparficles (Abbott laboratories, Abbott Park, II,

mMtcropartidesDNA) were also added to the lysis mixture.

2 ml of the melted agarose was gently floated on top of the lysis buffer and let cool to set. After hardening, the surface of the gel was washed to remove any residual guanidine that may have gotten on top of the gel by adding 500 microliters of water {above} to the surface of the gel and then removing the wash. 200 microliters of water (above) was then added to the top of the gel to represent eiution buffer.

The magnetic particles (MMP) were captured with a magnet by placing a magnet on the side of the tube in the region of the lysis buffer. An alternative approach is to place a greater magnetic source directly above the tube. The magnet was then slowly drawn up the side of the tube with the magnetic field pulling the magnetic particles along. The magnetic particles smeared out somewhat while passing through the gel. The collected particles were on the side of the tube and as the bolus of particles moved up the tube the gel was displaced by the particles. A channel was formed where the particles moved through the gel. It may he possible to position a magnet such that the particles would be drawn up directly through the center of the gel but the position of the magnet does not seem to matter based on the results obtained.

The magnetic particles were moved through the gel layer to the water layer and mixed back and forth by moving the magnet from one sid to the other. This was done several times to mix the particles in the water. The particles were then captured by placing the magnet on the side of the tube and drawn back info the get such that they were removed from the top water layer. See, Figure 1 A - F. The water layer was removed and placed into a microfuge tube. Absorption readings were taken at A 230, 260, 280 and 400 on a Beckman DU-640 spectrophotometer although any commercial spectrophotometer will work. The instrument was blanked with water and the samples were read.

Readings taken at A 230. Undiluted sample gave a reading of 2.8194 which is too high for an accurate reading for this particular spectrophotometer. The sample was diluted 1 /40 with water and reread. The reading was 1.7288 with the 40 X dilution. A factor of 0.6 X was used to convert A23G to mM GITC. 1.7288 X 40 X 0.6 41.4 m GITC This concentration of GITC in the sample would be acceptable. Several assays have been tested and show a tolerance to G!TC up to 50 mM in the reaction. The assays of interest use and 1 :1 sample volumerassay mix ratio and the 1.4 ^' mM GITC in the sample would equal about 20 U GITC In an assay _*

The test wa repeated and this time the MM we e drawn up through the gel while rotating the gei increasing the distance that the particles traveled. Spectrophotometer measurement were made using a 1/50 dilution of the sample In water. The absorbance at A230 was 0,8792. 0,8792 X SO X 0.8 ~ 28,4 mM GITC in the sample which Is an acceptable range. This method was next tested with samples containing nucleic acid. Example 2

in this experiment a nown quantity of nucleic acid was used in the sample. The nucleic acids tested were the Calibrator 8 from the Abbott Rea!Tlme HCV assay and the HCV internal Control used in the assay extractions. The Calibrator B is an RNA sample containing HCV sequences at a concentration of approximately 10,000,000 lu rof

(International units per milliliter) in human plasma. The internal control is also an RNA molecule used to test the extraction performance of the sample preparation systems used to extract HCV for testing. The presence of glycerol and ethanoi in the gel was also tested to determine if they might have any effect on the extraction. The presence of ethanoi may help retain the nucleic acids on the particles and the glycerol may change the density of the gei.

The seis were made up as follows using Amnion Agarose~LE #9040 lot 0S P808,

Three reagent bottles with 25 mi of water In each were used to make the different gels. The water was DNase and RNase free wafer. Agarose {Amblon Agarose-LE #9040 lot 064P8G.B) was added to each bottle as follows .

0,05 gm agarose to bottle 1 to make a 0.2. % gel.

0,10 gm agarose to bottle 2 to make a 0.4 % gei,

0.15 gm agarose to bottle 3 to make a 0.8 % gei.

The agarose was melted in the microwave and then the bottles were placed on top of the temp block heated to SB ¾ to keep melted.

The Hepatitis C viral Calibrator 8 {Abbott Labo ato ies; Abbott Park, II; this is a known quantity of HCV nucleic acid in a negative human serum) and internal Control (Abbott Laboratories. Abbott Park. IL) was first extracted with the lysis-buffer ethanoi mix and captured on magnetic particles as follows. The■ lysis ethanol mix discussed In Ex 1 was used as the lysis buffer.

The lysis mix

10 ml of the lysis ethanol mix

5 ml of HGV Calibrator 8

350 μΙ of HCV internal Control

500 ui of MMP (multifunctional magnetic particles)

The mix was put on a rocker plate at room temperature for 12 minutes

During the !ysate incubation, nine 15 ml tubes were set up as below.

Tube Agarose water ethanol glycerol Final Agarose concentration

1 4 ml of 0.2% 1 mi 0 0 0.16%

2 4 ml of 0.4% 1 ml 0 0 0.32%

3 4 mi of 0.6% 1 mi 0 0 0 48%

4 4 ml of 0.2% 0 1 mi 0 0.16%

5 4 ml of 0.4% 0 1 mi 0 0.32%

6 4 mi of 0.6% 0 1 mi 0 0.48%

? 9 ml of 0.2% 0 0 1 ml 0,18%

3 9 ml of 0,4% 0 0 1 mi 0.36%

s 9 ml of 0 6% 0 0 1 ml 0,54%

The glycerol content was set at 10%, At 20% glycerol, the agarose was denser than the lysis buffer and sank to the bottom of the tube.

After the lysis incubation was com lete; the samples were extracted using the gel technique as follows. 1 .5 ml of the !ysate was put Into each of 0 tubes (12 mm X 75 mm polypropylene). 2 ml of each agarose mix was gently put on top and let harden (about 4 ¾ for -10 minutes). 1 mi water was out on top of all tubes to remove any trace of lysis. The condition with the lowest amount of agarose and ethanol started to float above the water wash and the sample (#2) was not further tested. The water was removed from the top of the gels and 200 μΙ of water was added to the top of ail gels for elutron. The magnetic particles were captured on the side of the tube with a magnet and drawn up through the gel to elution buffer as described in example 1. The magnetic particles ^' were then mo ed the particles back and forihin the elution buffer about 20 times using the magnet to draw them from one Sid of the tube to the other. The particles were drawn back into the gel as described above. The elution buffer was then removed and put info a microfuge tube. from each condition a 10 pi sample was taken and dilute with 490 μί of water. The absorption was read in a spectrophotometer (Beckman DU-640) at 230 am to determine GITC carryover as described In example 1.

The instrument was blanked with water and then the samples were re

Sample _... Λ230 fflM GlTC D|ujk?Q . mai GITC

1 0.3693 0.210819 SO 10.54595

2 not tested

3 0,4904 0.28262 ^" 50 14.13134

4 0.3318 0.188595 50 9.429773

5 0.4461 0,256395 50 12,81975

6 0 81 10 0.472466 50 23.62328

7 0.5354 0.309273 50 15,48364

8 0.S223 0.301516 50 15.07579

9 0.5418 0.813003 50 15.65313

Ail the samples have GITC concentrations below 25 M.

The samples were then tested for the presence of the HCV and infernal Control sequences using the Abbott Rea!Time™ HCV assay. A ma termix was made using the three components of the Abbott RealTlme HCV assay code 4JS6-90. The 320 microliters of Activator and 943 microliters of Oligo mix were added to the preloaded e yme bottle and gently mixed by pipetting. 25 microliters of the mastermix was then mixed with 25

microliters of each e!uated sample in a well of a PGR plate. 26 microliters of this mixture was then transferred to a Cepheld Tube and cycled using a Cepheld (Sunnyvale. CA)

SmartCycler® with the following program, below.

Temp C Time seconds Ste 1 for 1 cycle

55 1200

Step 2 for 4 cycles

Temp Time

95 20

46 30

66 20

Step 3 for 8 cycles

Temp Time

92 20

80 30

88 20

Step 4 for 3? cycles

Temp Time

90 20

58 40

58 20

35 40

Each sample was then react

The amplification curves are below and show thai both HCV and the internal control were amplified fro the eiuaies. Figure 2 shows graphs of the amplification curves (A) and internal controls (8).

The ^■■ second 25 microliters of each of the assay mixes were also amplified using a different program, also in the Cep eid SmariCyc!er.

Temp C Time seconds

Step 1 for 1 cycle

Temp Time

55 1800

Step 2 for 4 cycles

Temp Time

85 ^' 40

46 30

68 20

Step 3 for 6 cycles

Temp Time

92 40

«yss.:>ass;a v _> 60 30

68 20

Step 4 for 37 cycles

Temp Time

90 30

58 40

68 20

35 40

Each sample was read.

Figure 3 shows graphs of the amplification curves (A) and internal controls (S).

These experiments demonstrate that it is possible to capture HCV on magnetic n icroparticies, draw the particles tip through a gel, which removes high levels of GITC and other contaminants, into an e ution buffer, elute the sample and use the eiuted sample in a PGR assay without further purification of the nucleic acid. The extraction protocol did not use any separate washing steps.

l o