Method of nucleic acid isolation

摘要

It is an object of the present invention to release and isolate nucleic acid from a biological sample readily and in a short time. The present invention relates to a technique for isolating nucleic acid by which a biological sample including cells is caused to pass through a solid substance carrier to isolate the cells, a mixture of the cells and a cell lysis reagent is caused to pass through the solid substance carrier to disrupt the cells and release nucleic acid therein, and a mixture of the released nucleic acid and a nucleic acid binding reagent is caused to pass through the solid substance carrier to bind the nucleic acid to the solid substance carrier. Examples of an instrument comprising such solid substance carrier include an instrument comprising a syringe having a solid substance carrier fixed therein. The instrument is capable of moving a solution from one space to another space separated by the solid substance carrier, using pressurization and depressurization via the syringe, thereby causing the solution to pass through the solid substance carrier. Preferably, the solid substance carrier is a solid substance having a multitude of channels therein or a mesh-like solid substance composed of fibrous substances, by which cells are disrupted from a biological sample including the cells, nucleic acid is released, and the nucleic acid can be bound.