Buccal cell DNA extraction: yield, purity, and cost: a comparison of two methods

Simple and cost-effective methods are needed to extract DNA in order to use it in large-scale studies. Blood is an excellent DNA source; however, it is costly and invasive thus an alternative is needed. Several kits and chemical protocols using buccal cells have been proposed for DNA extraction. The objective of the study is to evaluate buccal NaOH chemical protocol and Nucleospin Tissue Kit (BD Biosciences, Macery-Nagel, Germany) for DNA extraction. DNA swab samples were collected from 300 voluntary participants. DNA yields and purity were measured by NaOH and Nucleospin Tissue Kit techniques; the cost and time consumption for DNA extraction per sample were assessed as well. Results have shown that DNA amount and purity extracted by NaOH procedure was compared to that of the kit (p = 0.164; p = 0.249, respectively). NaOH method was considered cheaper and less time consuming (0.06 versus 3.80 USD, and 1.33 versus 3.59 minutes per sample, p < 0.001). Buccal cell derived DNA extracted by NaOH protocol can be considered a feasible substitute for more expensive and time-consuming kits.