Patent ID: 7569346

Claim:
A method for extracting nucleic acid from a sample, the sample containing cells, spores, or microorganisms, the method comprising: a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having: i) a lysing region for lysing the cells, spores, or microorganisms to release the nucleic acid therefrom and; ii) a desiccant adjacent to the lysing region; and iii) at least one waste chamber; b) contacting the sample with a paper or membrane material in the lysing region, the paper or membrane material being impregnated with at least one chemical for lysing the cells, spores, or microorganisms in the sample, under conditions where the cells, spores, or microorganisms in the sample are lysed, while drying the sample on the paper or the membrane material by heating and absorbing moisture with the desiccant; c) binding the nucleic acid released from the cells, spores, or microorganisms to the paper or membrane material; d) washing the lysing region with wash fluid and forcing the wash fluid to flow from the lysing region into the at least one waste chamber while the nucleic acid remains bound to the paper or membrane material in the lysing region; and e) eluting the nucleic acid from the paper or membrane material.