DNA Isolation from Buccal Swabs

Buccal swabs are a non-invasive way to collect human DNA samples. Several companies produce buccal swabs and each recommend varying collection methods; such as Puritan polyester tipped applicators (PN 25-806-2PD) recommends swabbing the inside of the cheek with two different swabs. Below is a protocol developed by Beckman Life Sciences PoP team members for specific customers and the data when the protocols were used with Puritian and Copan FLOQSwabs™ (PN 50E011E01). Both swabs were used to ensure that both brands can be extracted from using the same protocol.

Protocol:

Isolation of DNA from Buccal Swabs using DNAdvance Kit

DNA Extraction from Puritian and Copan FLOQSwabs™ Buccal Swabs

Puritan polyester swabs and Copan FLOQSwabs™ were wet on the tongue and then run ten times on each cheek of three healthy donors. In order to run both Puritan swabs in a single well, the volume of Lysis Buffer was increased to completely cover both swab heads. If the swab heads are not covered by Lysis Buffer, DNA yields are lower and less consistent. Subsequent reagents were scaled up to work with the larger volumes of Lysis Buffer.

Two Puritan polyester swabs resulted in greater than 1 µg of DNA with concentrations ranging from ~20-50 ng/µL (Table 1). A single Copan FLOQSwabs™ resulted in slightly less yield, with concentrations from ~10 – 25 ng/µL and total yield of greater than 450 ng (Table 1, Figure 1). Little protein contamination was seen, with 260/280 values of 1.6-1.7 (Table 1).

Sample Conc. (ng/µL) Purity (260/280) Yield (µg)
Copan FLOQSwabs™ 1 7.855 1.6 0.47
Copan FLOQSwabs™ 2 24.91 1.6 1.5
Copan FLOQSwabs™ 3 18.36 1.7 1.1
Puritan 1 17.99 1.7 1.1
Puritan 2 52.46 1.6 3.1
Puritan 3 31.23 1.6 1.9

 

Genomics POP DNA Isolation from Buccal Swabs

 

 

Beckman Coulter makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever express or implied, with respect to this protocol, including but not limited to warranties of fitness for a particular purpose or merchantability or that the protocol is non-infringing. All warranties are expressly disclaimed. Your use of the method is solely at your own risk, without recourse to Beckman Coulter. Not intended or validated or use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions. This protocol is for demonstration only, and is not validated by Beckman Coulter.
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