QIAamp Spin Column procedure.

Apoptotic banding in stored blood.

Long-range PCR.

Paternity testing by RFLP analysis.

Optimized buffers lyse samples, stabilize nucleic acids, and enhance selective DNA adsorption to the QIAamp membrane. Alcohol is added and lysates loaded onto the QIAamp spin column. Wash buffers are used to remove impurities and pure, ready-to-use DNA is then eluted in water or low-salt buffer.

Genomic DNA from 8 blood samples stored at 4°C for 1 week. DNA was purified using the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit. When blood is stored at 4°C, the DNA is rapidly degraded due to apoptosis; the resulting apoptotic banding pattern can clearly be seen in these samples. M1: lambda-HindIII; M2:100 bp ladder.

Amplification of a 10 kb fragment of the human ALDH1 gene from genomic DNA isolated from blood. DNA was purified using conventional methods (Phenol) or the QIAamp DNA Blood Maxi Kit (QIAamp). PCR products were sequenced directly. M: 1 kb ladder.

Three paternity cases tested with DNA purified from blood samples with the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit. 1: mother; 2: child; 3: alleged father; 4: child + alleged father. M: markers. Each lane had 3 µg of DNA loaded. Outcome: A: alleged father excluded; B & C: alleged father confirmed.
(Data kindly provided by J. James, Gene Proof Technologies, Nashville, TN, USA.)