Patent ID: 8420317

Claim:
A method of processing a biological sample, comprising the steps of: (a) combining said biological sample with a pH buffer and a detergent that lyses or disrupts biological membranes, whereby there is created a first liquid composition having a first pH; (b) mixing with said first liquid composition an alkaline composition, whereby there is created a second liquid composition having a second pH, wherein said second pH is at least 0.2 pH units higher than said first pH, wherein said second pH is lower than pH 9.5, wherein said alkaline composition comprises a strong base in solution at a concentration of at least 0.1 N, and wherein both DNA and RNA that may be present in said biological sample are substantially stable and not degraded or hydrolyzed in said second liquid composition; and (c) purifying nucleic acids, comprising RNA, from said second liquid composition.