Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pre-PCR processing

Strategies to generate PCR-compatible samples

  • Review
  • Published:
Molecular Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is recognized as a rapid, sensitive, and specific molecular diagnostic tool for the analysis of nucleic acids. However, the sensitivity and kinetics of diagnostic PCR may be dramatically reduced when applied directly to biological samples, such as blood and feces, owing to PCR-inhibitory components. As a result, pre-PCR processing procedures have been developed to remove or reduce the effects of PCR inhibitors. Pre-PCR processing comprises all steps prior to the detection of PCR products, that is, sampling, sample preparation, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) amplification. The aim of pre-PCR processing is to convert a complex biological sample with its target nucleic acids/cells into PCR-amplifiable samples by combining sample preparation and amplification conditions. Several different pre-PCR processing strategies are used: (1) optimization of the DNA amplification conditions by the use of alternative DNA polymerases and/or amplification facilitators, (2) optimization of the sample preparation method, (3) optimization of the sampling method, and (4) combinations of the different strategies. This review describes different pre-PCR processing strategies to circumvent PCR inhibition to allow accurate and precise DNA amplification.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Lantz, P. G., Abu Al-Soud, W., Knutsson, R., Hahn-Hägerdal, B., and Rådström, P. (2000) Biotechnical use of the polymerase chain reaction for microbiological analysis of biological samples. Biotechnol. Annu. Rev. 5, 87–130.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Abu Al-Soud, W. and Rådström, P. (1998) Capacity of nine thermostable DNA polymerases to mediate DNA amplification in the presence of PCR-inhibiting samples. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64, 3748–3753.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rossen, L., Nørskov, P., Holmstrøm, K., and Rasmussen, O. F. (1992) Inhibition of PCR by components of food samples, microbial diagnostic assays and DNA-extraction solutions. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 17, 37–45.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wilson, I. G. (1997) Inhibition and facilitation of nucleic acid amplification. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63, 3741–3751.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Abu Al-Sound, W. and Rådström, P. (2001) Purification and characterization of PCR-inhibitory components in blood cells. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39, 485–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Lantz, P.-G., Matsson, M., Wadström, T., and Rådström, P. (1997) Removal of PCR inhibitors from human faecal samples through the use of an aqueous two-phase system for sample preparation prior to PCR. J. Microbiol. Methods 28, 159–167.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Onteiro, L., Bonnemaison, D., Vekris, A., et al. (1997) Complex polysaccharides as PCR inhibitors in feces: Helicobacter pylori model. J. Clin. Microbiol. 35, 995–998.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kim, C. H., Khan, M., Morin, D. E., et al. (2001) Optimization of the PCR for detection of Staphylococcus aureus nuc gene in bovine milk. J. Dairy Sci. 84, 74–83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Akane, A., Matsubara, K., Nakamura, H., Takahashi, S., and Kimura, K. (1994) Identification of the heme compound copurified with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from bloodstains, a major inhibitor of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. J. Forensic Sci. 39, 362–372.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Tsai, Y. L. and Olson, B. H. (1992) Rapid method for separation of bacterial DNA from humic substances in sediments for polymerase chain reaction. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58, 2292–2295.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Eckhart, L., Bach, J., and Tschachler, E.. (2000) Melanin binds reversibly to thermostable DNA polymerase and inhibits its activity. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 271, 726–730.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Belec, L., Authier, J., Eliezer-Vanerot, M. C., Piedouillet, C., Mohamed, A. S., and Gherardi, R. K. (1998) Myoglobin as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) inhibitor: a limitation for PCR from skeletal muscle tissue avoided by the use of Thermus thermophilus polymerase. Muscle Nerve 21, 1064–1067.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Demeke, T. and Adams, R. P. (1992) The effects of plant polysaccharides and buffer additives on PCR. Biotechniques 12, 332–334.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bickley, J., Short, J. K., McDowel, D. G., and Parkes, H. C. (1996) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of Listeria monocytogenes in diluted milk and reversal of PCR inhibition caused by calcium ions. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 22, 153–158.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Powell, H. A., Gooding, C. M., Garret, S. D., Lund, B. M., and McKee, R. A. (1994) Proteinase inhibition of the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in milk using the polymerase chain reaction. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 18, 59–61.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Khan, G., Kangro, H. O., Coates, P. J., and Heath, R. B. (1991) Inhibitory effects of urine on the polymerase chain reaction for cytomegalovirus DNA. J. Clin. Pathol. 44, 360–365.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Abu Al-Soud, W., Jönsson, L. J., and Rådström, P. (2000) Identification and characterization of immunoglobulin G in blood as a major inhibitor of diagnostic PCR. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38, 345–350.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Byrnes, J. J., Downey, K. M., Esserman, L., and So, A. G. (1975) Mechanism of hemin inhibition of erythroid cytoplasmic DNA polymerase. Biochemistry 14, 796–799.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Jaffe, R. I., Lane, J. D., and Bates, C. W. (2001) Realtime identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa direct from clinical samples using a rapid extraction method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15, 131–137.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Bailey, J. S. (1998) Detection of Salmonella cells within 24 to 26 hours in poultry samples with the polymerase chain reaction BAX system. J. Food Prot. 61, 792–795.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Dahlenborg, M., Borch, E., and Rådström, P. (2001) Development of a combined selection and enrichment PCR procedure for Clostridium botulinum types B, E, and F and its use to determine prevalence in fecal samples from slaughtered pigs. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 67, 4781–4788.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Fahle, G. A. and Fischer, S. H. (2000) Comparison of six commercial DNA extraction kits for recovery of cytomegalovirus DNA from spiked human specimens. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38, 3860–3863.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Freise, J., Gerard, H. C., Bunke, T., et al. (2001) Optimised sample DNA preparation for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in synovial tissue by polymerase chain reaction and ligase chain reaction. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 60, 140–145.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lantz, P. G., Knutsson, R., Blixt, Y., Al Soud, W. A., Borch, E., and Rådström, P. (1998) Detection of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in enrichment media and pork by a multiplex PCR: a study of sample preparation and PCR-inhibitory components. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 45, 93–105.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Shafer, R. W., Levee, D. J., Winters, M. A., Richmond, K. L., Huang, D., and Merigan, T. C. (1997) Comparison of QIAamp HCV kit spin columns, silica beads, and phenol-chloroform for recovering human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNA from plasma. J. Clin. Microbiol. 35, 520–522.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Kramvis, A., Bukofzer, S., and Kew, M. C. (1996) Comparison of hepatitis B virus DNA extractions from serum by the QIAamp blood kit, GeneReleaser, and the phenol-chloroform method. J. Clin. Microbiol. 34, 2731–2733.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hallier-Soulier, S. and Guillot, E. (1999) An immunomagnetic separation polymerase chain reaction assay for rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in drinking water. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 176, 285–289.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Antognoli, M. C., Salman, M. D., Triantis, J., Hernandez, J., and Keefe, T. (2001) A one-tube nested polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis in spiked milk samples: an evaluation of concentration and lytic techniques. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 13, 111–116.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Jothikumar, N., Cliver, D. O., and Mariam, T. W. (1998) Immunomagnetic capture PCR for rapid concentration and detection of hepatitis A virus from environmental samples. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64, 504–508.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Lantz, P.-G., Tjerneld, F., Hahn-Hägerdal, B., and Rådström, P. (1996) Use of aqueous two-phase systems in sample preparation for polymerase chain reaction-based detection of microorganisms. J. Chromat. B Biomed. Appl. 680, 165–170.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Lindqvist, R., Norling, B., and Thisted Lambertz, S. (1997) A rapid sample preparation method for PCR detection of food pathogens based on buoyant density centrifugation. Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 24, 306–310.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gerritsen, M. J., Olyhoek, T., Smits, M. A., and Bokhout, B. A. (1991) Sample preparation method for polymerase chain reaction-based semiquantitative detection of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo subtype hardjobovis in bovine urine. J. Clin. Microbiol. 29, 2805–2808.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Starbuck, M. A., Hill, P. J., and Stewart, G. S. (1992) Ultra sensitive detection of Listeria monocytogenes in milk by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Lett. Appl. Microbiol. 15, 248–252.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Abu Al-Soud, W., Lantz, P.-G., Bäckman, A., Olcén, P., and Rådström, P. (1998) A sample preparation method which facilitates detection of bacteria in blood cultures by the polymerase chain reaction. J. Microbiol. Methods 32, 217–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Lindqvist, R. (1997) Preparation of PCR samples from food by a rapid and simple centrifugation technique evaluated by detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 37, 73–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Thisted Lambertz, S., Lindqvist, R., Ballagi-Pordány, A., and Danielsson-Tham, M.-L. (2000) A combined culture and PCR method for detection of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in food. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 57, 63–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Sharma, V. K. and Carlson, S. A. (2000) Simultaneous detection of Salmonella strains and Escherichia coli O157:H7 with fluorogenic PCR and single-enrichment-broth culture. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66, 5472–5476.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Knutsson, R., Blixt, Y., Grage, H., Borch, E., and Rådström, P. (2002) Evaluation of selective enrichment PCR procedures for Yersinia enterocolitica. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 73, 35–46.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Minton, A. P. and Wilf, J. (1981) Effect of macromolecular crowding upon the structure and function of an enzyme: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenas. Biochemistry 20, 4821–4826.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Zimmerman, S. B. and Trach, S. O. (1988) Macromolecular crowding extends the range of conditions under which DNA polymerase is functional. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 949, 297–304.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Saiki, R. K., Scharf, S., Faloona, F., et al. (1985) Enzymatic amplification of beta-globin genomic sequences and restriction site analysis for diagnosis of sickle cell anemia. Science 230, 1350–1354.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Saiki, R. K., Gelfand, D. H., Stoffel, S., et al. (1988) Primer-directed enzymatic amplification of DNA with a thermostable DNA polymerase. Science 239, 487–491.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Katcher, H. L. and Schwartz, I. (1994) A distinctive property of Tth DNA polymerase: enzymatic amplification in the presence of phenol. Biotechniques 16, 84–92.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Zsolnai, A. and Fesus, L. (1997) Enhancement of PCR-RFLP typing of bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency. Biotechniques 23, 380–382.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Diakou, A. and Dovas, C. I. (2001) Optimization of random-amplified polymorphic DNA producing amplicons up to 8500 bp and revealing intraspecies polymorphism in Leishmania infantum isolates. Anal. Biochem. 288, 195–200.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Hendolin, P. H., Paulin, L., and Ylikoski, J. (2000) Clinically applicable multiplex PCR for four middle ear pathogens. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38, 125–132.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Haag, E. and Raman, V. (1994) Effects of primer choice and source of Taq DNA polymerase on the banding patterns of differential display RT-PCR. Biotechniques 17, 226–228.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Gál, J., Schnell, R., and Kálmán, M. (2000) Polymerase dependence of autosticky polymerase chain reaction. Anal. Biochem. 282, 156–158.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Tebbe, C. C. and Vahjen, W. (1993) Interference of humic acids and DNA extracted directly from soil in detection and transformation of recombinant DNA from bacteria and a yeast. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 59, 2657–2665.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Favre, N. and Rudin, W. (1996) Salt-dependent performance variation of DNA polymerases in co-amplification PCR. Biotechniques 21, 28–30.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Wiedbrauk, D. L., Werner, J. C., and Drevon, A. M. (1995) Inhibition of PCR by aqueous and vitreous fluids. J. Clin. Microbiol. 33, 2643–2646.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Poddar, S. K., Sawyer, M. H., and Connor, J. D. (1998) Effect of inhibitors in clinical specimens on Taq and Tth DNA polymerase-based PCR amplification of influenza A virus. J. Med. Microbiol. 47, 1131–1135.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Akalu, A. and Reichardt, J. K. (1999) A reliable PCR amplification method for microdissected tumor cells obtained from paraffin-embedded tissue. Genet. Anal. 15, 229–233.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Panaccio, M. and Lew, A. (1991) PCR based diagnosis in the presence of 8% (v/v) blood. Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 1151.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Kebelmann-Betzing, C., Seeger, K., Dragon, S., et al. (1998) Advantages of a new Taq DNA polymerase in multiplex PCR and time-release PCR. Biotechniques 24, 154–158.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Moretti, T., Koons, B., and Budowle, B. (1998) Enhancement of PCR amplification yield and specificity using AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase. Biotechniques 25, 716–722.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Shames, B., Fox, J. G., Dewhirst, F., Yan, L., Shen, Z., and Taylor, N. S. (1995) Identification of wide-spread Helicobacter hepaticus infection in feces in commercial mouse colonies by culture and PCR assay. J. Clin. Microbiol. 33, 2968–2972.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Kainz, P., Schmiedlechner, A., and Strack, H. B. (2000) Specificity-enhanced hot-start PCR: addition of double-stranded DNA fragments adapted to the annealing temperature. Biotechniques 28, 278–282.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Kainz, P. (2000) The PCR plateau phase—towards an understanding of its limitations. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1494, 23–27.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Laigret, F., Deaville, J., Bove, J. M., and Bradbury, J. M. (1996) Specific detection of Mycoplasma iowa using polymerase chain reaction. Mol. Cell Probes 10, 23–29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Pomp, D. and Medrano, J. F. (1991) Organic solvents as facilitators of polymerase chain reaction. Biotechniques 10, 58–59.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Abu Al-Soud, W. (2000) Optimisation of diagnostic PCR: a study of PCR inhibitors in blood and sample pretreatment. Doctoral thesis. Department of Applied Microbiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Abu Al-Soud, W. and Rådström, P. (2000) Effects of amplification facilitators on diagnostic PCR in the presence of blood, feces, and meat. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38, 4463–4470.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Poussier, S., Cheron, J. J., Couteau, A., and Luisetti, J. (2002) Evaluation of procedures for reliable PCR detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in common natural substrates. J. Microbiol. Methods 51, 349–359.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Kreader, C. A. (1996) Relief of amplification inhibition in PCR with bovine serum albumin or T4 gene 32 protein. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 62, 1102–1106.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Tsutsui, K. and Mueller, G. C. (1987) Hemin inhibits virion-associated reverse transcriptase of murine leukemia virus. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 149, 628–634.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Topal, M. D. and Sinha, N. K. (1983) Products of bacteriophage T4 genes 32 and 45 improve the accuracy of DNA replication in vitro. J. Biol. Chem. 258, 12,274–12,279.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Chandler, D. P., Wagnon, C. A., and Bolton, H., Jr. (1998) Reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibition of PCR at low concentrations of template and its implications for quantitative RT-PCR. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64, 669–677.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Jordan, S. P., Zugay, J., Darke, P. L., and Kuo, L. C. (1992) Activity and dimerization of human immunodeficiency virus protease as a function of solvent composition and enzyme concentration. J. Biol. Chem. 267, 20,028–20,032.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Wu, J. R. and Yeh, Y. C. (1973) Requirement of a functional gene 32 product of bacteriophage T4 in UV repair. J. Virol. 12, 758–765.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Varadaraj, K. and Skinner, D. M. (1994) Denaturants or cosolvents improve the specificity of PCR amplification of a G + C-rich DNA using genetically engineered DNA polymerases. Gene 140, 1–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Lee, C. H., Mizusawa, H., and Kakefuda, T. (1981) Unwinding of double-stranded DNA helix by dehydration. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78, 2838–2842.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Dutton, C. M., Paynton, C., and Sommer, S. S. (1993) General method for amplifying regions of very high G+C content. Nucleic Acids Res. 21, 2953–2954.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Innis, M. A., Myambo, K. B., Gelfand, D. H., and Brow, M. A. (1988) DNA sequencing with Thermus aquaticus DNA polymerase and direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 9436–9440.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. Frackman, S., Kobs, G., Simpson, D., and Storts, D. (1998) Betaine and DMSO: enhancing agents for PCR. Promega Notes 27,

  76. Henke, W., Herdel, K., Jung, K., Schnorr, D., and Loening, S. A. (1997) Betaine improves the PCR amplification of GC-rich DNA sequences. Nucleic Acids Res. 25, 3957–3958.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Back, J. F., Oakenfull, D., and Smith, M. B. (1979) Increased thermal stability of proteins in the presence of sugars and polyols. Biochemistry 18, 5191–5196.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Nagai, M., Yoshida, A., and Sato, N. (1998) Additive effects of bovine serum albumin, dithiothreitol, and glycerol on PCR. Biochem. Mol. Biol. Int. 44, 157–163.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Kim, S., Labbe, R. G., and Ryu, S. (2000) Inhibitory effects of collagen on the PCR for detection of Clostridium perfringens. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66, 1213–1215.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Chen, S., Yee, A., Griffiths, M., et al. (1997) The evaluation of a fluorogenic polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Salmonella species in food commodities. Int. J. Food. Microbiol. 35, 239–250.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Knutsson, R., Fontanesi, M., Grage, H., and Rådström, P. (2002) Development of a PCR-compatible enrichment medium for Yersinia enterocolitica: amplification precision and dynamic detection range during cultivation. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 72, 185–201.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  82. Grant, K. A., Dickinson, J. H., Payne, M. J., Campbell, S., Collins, M. D., and Kroll, R. G. (1993) Use of the polymerase chain reaction and 16S rRNA sequences for the rapid detection of Brochothrix spp. in foods. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 74, 260–267.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  83. Klein, P. G. and Juneja, V. K. (1997) Sensitive detection of viable Listeria monocytogenes by reverse transcription-PCR. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63, 4441–4448.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  84. Nordvåg, B., Riise, H., Husby, G., Nilsen, I., and El-Gewely, M. R. (1995) Direct use of blood in PCR. Methods Neurosci. 26, 15–25.

    Google Scholar 

  85. Seesod, N., Lundeberg, J., Hedrum, A., et al. (1993) Immunomagnetic purification to facilitate DNA diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum. J. Clin. Microbiol. 31, 2715–2719.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Lantz, P. G., Tjerneld, F., Borch, E., Hahn-Hägerdal, B., and Rådström, P. (1994) Enhanced sensitivity in PCR detection of Listeria monocytogenes in soft cheese through use of an aqueous two-phase system as a sample preparation method. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60, 3416–3418.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  87. Giambernardi, T. A., Rodeck, U., and Klebe, R. J. (1998) Bovine serum albumin reverses inhibition of RT-PCR by melanin. Biotechniques 25, 564–566.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  88. Sidhu, M. K., Liao, M. J., and Rashidbaigi, A. (1996) Dimethyl sulfoxide improves RNA amplification. Biotechniques 21, 44–47.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Microbiology, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University, PO Box 124, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden

    Peter Rådström, Rickard Knutsson, Petra Wolffs, Maria Lövenklev & Charlotta Löfström

Authors
  1. Peter Rådström
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rickard Knutsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Petra Wolffs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maria Lövenklev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Charlotta Löfström
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Rådström.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rådström, P., Knutsson, R., Wolffs, P. et al. Pre-PCR processing. Mol Biotechnol 26, 133–146 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1385/MB:26:2:133

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/MB:26:2:133

Index Entries

Search

Navigation