Nucleic acid purification

摘要

Disclosed is a self-contained apparatus for generating a cell lysate from a biological sample. The self-contained apparatus may be a cartridge. The self-contained apparatus is to be used with an instrument. The self-contained apparatus comprises a macrofluidic component (3) and a microfluidic component (4) in communication with the macrofluidic component via at least one microfluidic element. The microfluidic component further includes a nucleic acid purification matrix. The macrofluidic component comprises a chamber (see 16, figure 4), for receiving an unprocessed biological sample from a collection device (1), and at least one pre-filled reagent storage reservoir (see 6-15, figure 4). The self-contained apparatus only comprises two inputs; one being the aforementioned chamber, for receiving the sample from a collection device, and the other input being a pneumatic interface port (5). In use, a drive mechanism of the instrument provides pneumatic pressure through the pneumatic interface port to drive reagents from the at least one reagent storage reservoir through the microfluidic element and the nucleic acid purification matrix and back into another microfluidic chamber. The self-contained apparatus provides a simple means for generating a cell lysate that eliminates the need for trained, technical users, working in sophisticated laboratories. Also, as the reagents are contained within the apparatus the risk of a user contaminating the reagent is avoided. A method for generating cell lysate from an unprocessed sample is also disclosed.