Patent ID: 6881541

Claim:
A method for extracting nucleic acid from a sample, the sample containing cells or viruses, the method comprising the steps of: a) introducing the sample into a cartridge having: i) a lysing chamber for lysing the cells or viruses to release the nucleic acid therefrom, wherein the lysing chamber contains at least one filter having a pore size sufficient to capture the cells or viruses in the sample as the sample flows through the lysing chamber, and wherein the lysing chamber further contains beads for rupturing the cells or viruses; b) a waste chamber for receiving used sample fluid that has flowed through the lysing chamber; and c) at least a third chamber for receiving the nucleic released from the cells or viruses; b) forcing the sample to flow through the lysing chamber to capture the cells or viruses with the filter; c) forcing the used sample fluid that has flowed through the lysing chamber to flow into the waste chamber; d) placing a lysis buffer in the lysing chamber; e) agitating the beads to lyse the cells or viruses, wherein the beads are agitated by sonicating the lysing chamber using an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a wall of the lysing chamber; and f) forcing the nucleic acid released from the cells or viruses to flow into the third chamber.