Rapid Methods for the Extraction of Nucleic Acids from Biological Samples

A method of extracting nucleic acids from a biological sample containing cells and/or microorganisms comprising:

• combining the biological sample with a lysis buffer to form a mix;
• combining the mix with magnetic matrix material to form a solution, wherein neither the buffer or matrix material disrupt the cells and/or microorganisms of the biological sample and the magnetic matrix material binds to nucleic acids of the biological sample other than those present within the cells and/or microorganisms;
• exposing the solution to a magnetic field and removing liquid to concentrate the magnetic matrix material;
• adding an alkaline buffer to the concentrated magnetic matrix material to form a mixture, wherein the alkaline buffer causes the release of nucleic acids from the magnetic matrix material;
• adding carboxy-modified magnetic beads in a binding buffer to the mixture wherein the carboxy-modified magnetic beads bind to the specific nucleic acid sequences;
• exposing the mixture to a magnetic field and removing liquid to isolate the carboxy-modified magnetic beads bound to the specific nucleic acid sequences;
• and
• eluting the one or more specific nucleic acid sequences from the carboxy-modified magnetic beads using purified water and/or a Tris-EDTA buffer.