Comparative analysis of the Schleicher and Schuell IsoCode Stix DNA isolation device and the Qiagen QIAamp DNA Mini Kit.

Efficient, rapid, and reproducible procedures for isolating high-quality DNA before PCR gene amplification are essential for the diagnostic and molecular identification of pathogenic bacteria. This study evaluated the Qiagen QIAamp DNA Mini Kit and the Schleicher and Schuell IsoCode Stix DNA isolation device for isolating nucleic acid. Buffer, serum, and whole-blood samples were spiked with Bacillus anthracis Sterne vegetative cells and Yersinia pestis, while water was spiked with B. anthracis Sterne spores. Although minimal variations in limit of detection occurred among matrices, both the IsoCode Stix extraction method and the Qiagen procedure have comparable detection limits.