Compositions and Methods for the Collection and Isolation of Nucleic Acids from Biological Specimens

A method of determining the presence or absence of a nucleic acid sequence, gene, or genome in a biological sample suspected of containing animal or human cells or microbes comprising:

• contacting the biological sample with an amount of an aqueous composition forming a mixture wherein the mixture contains a nucleic acid capture matrix material and chemical components comprising at least a chaotrope, a detergent, a reducing agent, a chelator, and a buffer that together inactivate enzymes and kill the human and animal cells and microbes present in the biological sample, and in one step physically lyse the human or animal cells and microbes of the biological sample, releasing nucleic acids therefrom;
• collecting the released nucleic acid;
• performing a nucleic acid test on the isolated and concentrated nucleic acids;
• and
• determining the presence or absence of the nucleic acid sequence, gene or genome in the biological sample.