Patent ID: 7888006

Claim:
A process for isolating DNA from a biological sample, comprising (a) mixing a biological sample with a lysing reagent, (b) separating the DNA-containing cell components from the other cell components in the mixture, (c) resuspending the DNA-containing cell components in a saline solution which contains a chaotropic salt, (d) removing contaminating ingredients from the resulting suspension by chemical, thermal and/or enzymatic treatment, (e) precipitating the DNA and retaining the precipitate, (f) washing the DNA precipitate, (g) retaining and drying the washed DNA, and (h) optionally resuspending the DNA in a low salt solution, wherein the isolation process is carried out in one reaction vessel and wherein the lysing reagent comprises, at least one salt of a mono- or divalent cation and one or more complexing agents; wherein the lysing reagent is not susceptible to microbial growth.