New GeneMole® Applications for Genetic Testing and HLA Tissue Typing Introduced

Mole Genetics today introduced a further two applications for its GeneMole® automated DNA extraction system. Designed and priced to provide researchers with a “personal” practical automation alternative to manual purification, GeneMole® has proved a major success since its European launch earlier this year.

Robust and able to handle up to 16 samples per run using special sealed MoleStrips™, the instrument’s already wide range of applications has now been extended to include DNA extraction for genetic testing of familial hypocholesterolemia and low resolution HLA tissue typing.

According to Marketing Director, Tone Yrvum, GeneMole® is definitely meeting a market need: “Even with our knowledge of the market, we have been surprised at the number of researchers who are still tied to manual preparation methods. Once they see how simple GeneMole® is to run and the consistent quality of DNA obtained, they are quickly converted! Cancer researchers looking to create their own mini biobanks have been just one example. In addition, whilst research has been our
main target market, we are getting increasing interest from genetic testing laboratories who see GeneMole® as ideal for preparing STAT samples. These two new applications are intended to appeal to both customer groups.”

For genetic testing of FH, genomic DNA was extracted from 200 ul EDTA blood, The elution volume was specified at 200 ul. In this case, GeneMole® gave an average DNA concentration of 22 ug/ml and an A260/A280 value >1.8. Test results then showed that the resultant DNA was free of PCR inhibitors and suitable for amplification and sequencing.

In developing the HLA application, genomic DNA was extracted using GeneMole® from 200 ul of whole blood with ACD as the blood anticoagulant. HLA-B low resolution and HLA-DR low resolution analysis was performed. The results obtained were equivalent to using DNA extracted by manual salt extraction. Quoting a user: “It seems in fact as if the DNA extracted on the GeneMole® instrument gives purer DNA and therefore clearer and easier to interpret bands on the gel.”