METHOD FOR ISOLATING NUCLEIC ACIDS

The present invention pertains to a method for isolating nucleic acids from a sample, preferably a blood sample, comprising the following steps:a) obtaining a sample which has been stabilised by the use of at least one cationic detergent, wherein the cationic detergent has formed complexes with the nucleic acids;b) obtaining the complexes optionally together with other sample components from the stabilised sample, wherein said complexes comprise the nucleic acids to be isolated;c) resuspending the complexes and optionally adding one or more additives before, during and/or after resuspension, thereby obtaining a resuspended sample comprising at leasti) the nucleic acid to be isolated;ii) at least one chaotropic agent; andiii) at least one chelating agent;andd) isolating nucleic acids from the resuspended sample.It was found that adding a chelating agent during resuspension considerably increases the nucleic acid yield as the formation of precipitates which irreversibly adhere to the container wall is considerably reduced.