Zymo Research’s PCR Inhibitor Removal Technology is Enabling the Use of Notoriously Difficult Samples for Sensitive Molecular Applications
The OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit is facilitating new discoveries from highly inhibited samples such as wastewater, melanomas, plants and soil.
IRVINE, CA (SEPTEMBER 13, 2024) — Zymo Research Corp. has been the market leader for PCR inhibitor removal from nucleic acids since the initial release of its OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit. Today, the OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit has become critical for a variety of modern molecular based applications such as metagenomics, cancer diagnostics, GMO crop development, and pathogen surveillance in wastewater.
The OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit is equipped with a unique column matrix that binds common polyphenolic PCR inhibitors, such as humic/fulvic acids, tannins, and melanin, which are not removed by most commercially available nucleic acid extraction kits. Extracted DNA or RNA is simply passed through the column using centrifugation and the recovered DNA and RNA is inhibitor-free and ideal for sensitive applications such as PCR & NGS. The OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit can be added to any nucleic acid extraction workflow, enabling high-sensitivity detection of total DNA and RNA from inhibitor-contaminated samples such as soil, plants, melanin-rich skin samples and sewage.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became evident that a more accurate and cost-effective approach for tracking viral spread and new variants was necessary for making better informed public health policies. Since SARS-CoV-2 can be shed in the feces of infected people, surveying wastewater for the presence of the virus using PCR and sequencing was a promising solution. However, accurately detecting low concentrations of pathogens in wastewater using molecular based techniques proved to be challenging due to how rich the sample source is in both nucleic acids from other sources, as well as chemical inhibitors that obstruct the enzymatic reactions necessary to carry out PCR and NGS. Using the OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit during viral RNA extraction overcame these challenges and has since been incorporated into public health wastewater pathogen surveillance programs worldwide.
“Our team at WastewaterSCAN has been conducting large-scale surveillance of national wastewater samples to monitor infectious disease biomarkers. The Zymo Research OneStep-96™ PCR Inhibitor Removal kit has been instrumental in our work, consistently delivering high-quality, inhibitor-free nucleic-acids across diverse sample types. We have been using the Zymo kit from the start of our work in 2020. This product has streamlined our workflow, allowing us to process samples efficiently without compromising the integrity of our data. Our workflow using the kit is documented in our protocol at protocols.io.” - Alexandria Boehm, Professor at Stanford University, and Principal Investigator of WastewaterSCAN
The OneStep™ PCR Inhibitor Removal Kit has proven to be a critical component when analyzing inhibitor-rich samples. Zymo Research’s innovative PCR inhibitor removal technology has expanded the opportunity for discovery in a wide range of fields from epidemiology to metagenomics.
About Zymo Research Corp.
Zymo Research, a privately owned biotech company founded in 1994, is a global leader in molecular tools for life sciences. Driven by the principle "The Beauty of Science is to Make Things Simple," Zymo Research is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that address complex scientific challenges.
Known also as The Epigenetics Company, Zymo Research offers a comprehensive range of technologies, including solutions for sample collection, DNA/RNA purification, library preparation, microbiomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, genomics, and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) services.
In addition to its cutting-edge technologies, Zymo Research is committed to sustainability. By engineering environmentally friendly solutions, the company strives to reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable future through scientific innovation.
For more information, please visit www.zymoresearch.com and follow on Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.