Patent ID: 7225079

Claim:
In a method for effecting a base-pair length based separation of a mixture of double-stranded DNA fragments with a high pressure liquid chromatography system comprising mobile phase flow control means for controlling the flow of solvent solution and aqueous components of a mobile phase, the flow control means including computer instruction input means; a Matched Ion Polynucleotide Chromatography separation column; conduit means for directing mobile phase from the mobile phase flow control means to the separation column; and a computer in communication with the mobile phase flow control means having a software mobile phase flow control module resident therein; the computerized steps of: a) receiving the numerical range of base-pair lengths in the mixture of DNA fragments to be separated; b) calculating the range of solvent concentrations and corresponding solvent gradient which will effect separation of selected fragments having said range of base-pair lengths, wherein said calculating comprises calibrating said chromatography system and said column with a standard mixture of double-stranded DNA fragments and using said calibration in an algorithm, wherein said algorithm relates the base pair length of DNA fragments in the standard mixture of double-stranded DNA fragments to solvent concentration required to elute the fragments in said standard mixture; c) providing said range of solvent concentrations and corresponding solvent gradient to the mobile phase flow control module; and d) conducting the separation, wherein the mobile phase flow control module controls the settings of the mobile phase flow control means to effect said range of solvent concentrations and corresponding solvent gradient required to effect separation of the selected fragments.