A Fully Automated Micro-Solid Phase Extraction Chip for Genetic Sample Preparation System

This paper presents a fully automated micro-solid phase extraction (micro-SPE) chip for extracting genomic DNA from white blood cells. For realizing automated microfluidic control, high pressure dome-shaped microvalves are monolithically integrated. To increase the DNA extraction efficiency, silica beads were packed in the extraction microchannel involving two weir structures. Experimental results show that DNA extraction efficiency of the automated micro-SPE chip was 63%, averaged from five times successive measurement, in the first 8 mul elution solutions through automated SPE procedures. Furthermore, through the PCR-amplification of the beta-globulin gene, the extracted genomic DNA is verified that it is a good quality for downstream genetic assays.