Performance

The Investigator STAR Lyse&Prep Kit enables highly efficient purification of DNA from forensic casework samples in a high-throughput setup. The kit includes sufficient reagents for 400 samples, and includes multiple bottles of buffers and enzymes measured to enable utilization of one bottle per sample prep batch of up to 96 samples. This ensures efficient use of reagents and minimal storage of opened reagents, reducing any risk of contamination. Input volumes can be adjusted to accommodate a larger lysis volume for larger samples, and use of the Investigator Lyse&Spin Basket Kit baskets.

Principle

The Investigator STAR Lyse&Prep Kit reproducibly automate purification of genomic DNA, encountered in forensic and human identity applications. The purification procedure is efficient, and purified DNA performs well in downstream analyses, such as quantitative PCR and STR analysis. It is designed to ensure safe and reproducible handling of precious or potentially infectious samples, and comprises 4 steps: lyse, bind, wash and elute.

Since the type of samples that can be processed using the Investigator STAR Lyse&Prep Kit can vary greatly, there is also a variety of different pretreatments, optimized for specific sample types. Samples are lysed under denaturing conditions, in the presence of proteinase K and Buffer ATL, in total volumes of either 300 μl (intended for routine use) or 500 μl (facilitating the use of the Investigator Lyse&Spin Basket Kit baskets and also processing of larger samples).

Magnetic-particle technology combines the speed and efficiency of silica-based DNA purification with the convenient handling of magnetic particles, in a format designed specifically for the STAR Q SP/AS instrument and the Hamilton STARline instruments. DNA is isolated from lysates in one step through its binding to the silica surface of the particles in the presence of a chaotropic salt. The particles are separated from the lysates using a magnet. The DNA is then efficiently washed and eluted in modified TE buffer (Buffer ATE). The user can choose elution volumes of either 50 or 100 μl.

Applications

The high-quality DNA obtained using the Investigator STAR Lyse&Prep Kit is suitable for direct use in forensic and human identity testing for applications such as:

• Genotyping, including fingerprinting and paternity analysis
• DNA purification from trace samples (e.g., crime-scene)
• DNA extraction from filters used in environmental testing
• Routine analysis of reference samples