DNA-Free Reagents and Materials for Molecular Analysis of Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens

Microbial DNA is present at very low loads in clinical specimens. Molecular detection by amplification assays generally is a challenge because of a potentially multiple input of contaminating DNA from exogenous sources. Besides air-borne, handling and cross contamination, materials and reagents used in the molecular laboratory can contain microbial DNA which is a long underestimated potential source of false positive results. In this contribution decontamination procedures of material and reagents and the selection of certified microbial DNA-free components for sample collection, DNA extraction and PCR amplification are discussed with respect to the aim of building up a reliable molecular system for the analysis of bacterial and fungal organisms at the limit of detection.