Solution C3 (2 x 15 ml)

This reagent is supplied under the QIAGEN brand as part of the Primary Sample Technologies portfolio, classified within the Consumables budget line group. It is one of the solutions used in the PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit protocol for isolating genomic DNA from environmental samples.

The PowerSoil® DNA Isolation Kit employs patented Inhibitor Removal Technology® (IRT), a method intended for processing environmental samples containing a high humic acid content. It is designed for difficult soil types such as compost, sediment, and manure, while other more common soil types have also been used successfully. The procedure includes a humic substance and brown color removal step that is effective at removing PCR inhibitors from challenging soil samples.

Samples are processed in bead beating tubes for rapid homogenization, with cell lysis achieved through mechanical and chemical methods. Total genomic DNA is captured on a silica membrane in a spin column format, then washed and eluted. The resulting DNA is described as having a high level of purity, allowing successful PCR amplification of a variety of organisms including bacteria (such as Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus anthracis), fungi (such as yeasts and molds), algae, and Actinomycetes (such as Streptomyces).