Rapid Nucleic Acid Isolation Method and Fluid Handling Devices Overview

Sample preparation is a common bottleneck in genetic analysis. Tools that reduce time and effort are of value in a laboratory setting. There is a need for a genetic analysis/detection system that is not only mobile, ruggedized, easy-to-use but also provides an enclosed fluid handling that diminishes the risks of Ribonucleic acid (RNA) contamination and degradation during processing. NASA has developed a novel assay methodology and suite of devices to isolate nucleic acids and prepare samples for real-time (quantitative) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis that solves the problem of contamination and degradation because of the advanced microfluidics which provides better fluid handling. The assay employs an aqueous-based non-alcohol method that yields robust RNA quality. The suite of ready-to-use devices provide pre-loaded reagents in liquid and lyophilized formats to enable rapid, cost effective, and portable manual operation in the laboratory or remote field environments.