DNA purification is a step in the sample preparation workflow that eliminates enzymes, salts and other contaminants from lysed samples and PCR products before subsequent procedures like cloning or sequencing. It also removes unwanted PCR artifacts, such as primer dimers or unincorporated nucleotides. DNA purification is a critical step in molecular biology that requires careful planning in order to obtain high quality, reliable results.

There are numerous approaches to purifying DNA. The conventional methods for DNA isolation comprise a variety of steps, such as leukocyte separation or red blood cell lysis, to eliminate inhibitors of heme proteins of the PCR reaction. They also include deproteinization, RNAse treatment as well as precipitation using isopropanol and ethanol and then DNA elimination. These protocols require specialized equipment, such as an electrophoresis machine and biosafety cabinets due the intercalating dyes that are used in gel electrophoresis.

Other DNA purification methods use spin columns or plates with 96 wells that separate the contaminated particles by adsorbing to the surface. These methods can be extremely laborious, especially when working with large amounts of samples or when the columns need to be manually filled with fresh Reagents.

Dipsticks drastically reduce the number of sample processing steps to just three. They bind nucleic acids using the cellulose-based cellulose wax and release them once water is present. This method is particularly effective in low-resource environments, like remote field sites and teaching labs. Its simplicity and speed (30 s for each sample) is a great fit for diagnostic molecular applications such as diagnostics as well as genotype screening, and heterozygosity testing.

https://mpsciences.com/2021/04/23/dna-purification-processes-for-different-applications/