Evaluating genomic DNA extraction methods from human whole blood using endpoint and real-time PCR assays

The selection of an appropriate method for the rapid, safe, and cost-effective isolation of pure genomic DNA (gDNA) is crucial for large-scale genetic epidemiological studies. This study aimed to evaluate various genomic DNA extraction methods from human whole blood, focusing on efficiency and applicability for downstream genetic analysis, including SNP genotyping. Using endpoint and real-time PCR assays, we compared the traditional phenol–chloroform/proteinase-K method with a newly developed Rapid-Method based on a simple salting-out procedure. We assessed the quality of isolated DNA in terms of yield, purity, and suitability for applications such as PCR-RFLP analysis of the AGTR1 -1166A>C variant, which is linked to cardiovascular diseases. Results indicated that the Rapid-Method provided significantly better DNA quality and quantity compared to the traditional method, with lower processing times and costs. Notably, the Rapid-Method's scalability makes it suitable for large-scale epidemiological studies, offering a safer and more economical alternative for genomic DNA extraction from human samples.