Patent ID: 8062846

Claim:
An apparatus for preparing a nucleic acid component of a sample for amplification, comprising: a) a porous support including an agent that deactivates a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor component of a sample contacting the porous support; b) a housing having an opening and defining an interior, said interior being in fluid communication with the porous support, whereby at least a portion of a fluid directed through the opening is directed through at least a portion of the porous support thereby separating at least a portion of a nucleic acid component of a sample contacting the porous support from the sample, thereby preparing the nucleic acid component for amplification, the housing being attached to a first support; and c) a separating system for extracting the nucleic acid component from at least a portion of the sample and for depositing the nucleic acid component at the porous support wherein said separating system includes a magnetic substrate, and further includes: i. a vessel attached to a second support and having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, distal to said first end; ii. a rupturable ampoule contained within the vessel, wherein the magnetic substrate is contained within said ampoule when the ampoule is in an unruptured state; iii. a valve at the second end of the vessel including a well; and iv. a magnet at said valve; wherein the first support and the second support are attached to the valve, and the well of the valve is in fluid communication with the outlet at the second end of the vessel when the valve is in a first position and in fluid communication with the porous support and the opening of the housing when the valve is in a second position, whereby the magnetic substrate is brought into contact with the porous support when the valve is in the second position.