DNA extraction from liquid blood using QIAamp

The implementation of convicted felon DNA databases by increasing numbers of forensic science laboratories has engendered the need for a quick, efficient, and cost-effective method for the isolation of DNA from liquid blood samples. Because of the large numbers of samples involved, the ideal method would combine high throughput capability with maximal yield, high quality, and minimal time. We have found that the QIAGEN QIAamp Blood Kit/Tissue Kit satisfy all of these requirements. This simple, low cost spin column procedure yields purified DNA of approximately 20-30 kb that can be used directly in PCR or other enzymatic reactions without further purification. We compared the QIAamp isolation procedure to the standard SDS-Proteinase K/organic extraction/microcon purification procedure currently used by many forensic laboratories. The QIAamp procedure consistently gave a two-to four-fold increased yield relative to the organic extraction procedure. The DNA obtained was of high molecular weight, exhibited little degradation, and was suitable for RFLP and PCR analyses. We have found QIAGEN's QIAamp DNA isolation procedure to be ideally suited for preparation of samples for DNA databasing.