Patent ID: 7547516

Claim:
A method for reducing the presence of a nucleic acid amplification inhibitor in a reaction vessel, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a nucleic acid containing material to a reaction vessel having an inner surface; (b) after step (a), coating that portion of the inner surface of the reaction vessel that is in contact with the nucleic acid containing material with a surface treating agent, the surface treating agent being an oil that reduces the amount of an amplification inhibitor that can adhere to the inner surface of the reaction vessel; (c) after step (b), exposing a first volume of the reaction vessel comprising the nucleic acid containing material to reagents and conditions sufficient to isolate a target nucleic acid; (d) removing at least a portion of the first volume from the reaction vessel; (e) after step (d), providing to the reaction vessel a wash solution; (f) exposing a second volume of the reaction vessel comprising the wash solution to reagents and conditions sufficient to isolate the target nucleic acid; (g) removing at least a portion of the second volume from the reaction vessel; and (h) after step (g), providing to the reaction vessel reagents sufficient to amplify a target sequence of the target nucleic acid, and exposing the reaction vessel to amplification conditions, wherein the surface treating agent will not inhibit amplification of the target sequence.