Abstract: The present invention provides a method of collecting microorganisms and a method of collecting nucleic acids, which both can be carried out easily and can achieve a high collection rate. A method of collecting microorganisms according to the present invention includes a microorganism adsorption step of bringing a sample into contact with fine particles so as to cause microorganisms contained in the sample to be adsorbed onto the fine particles. In this method, the fine particles have a particle diameter of 6 ?m or less and a specific surface area of 50 m2/g or less. Furthermore, a method of collecting nucleic acids according to the present invention includes: a microorganism adsorption step of causing microorganisms to be adsorbed onto fine particles; and a nucleic acid elution step of eluting nucleic acids from the microorganisms that have been adsorbed onto the fine particles. The microorganism adsorption step in this method is the microorganism collection method of the present invention.

Abstract: In a method for concentration and purification method of nucleic acids using electrophoresis, cationic surfactant is added to a sample containing nucleic acids so as to adjust electric charge of impurities in the sample, and then the sample is placed in an electric field for electrophoresis so as to concentrate and purify the nucleic acids. The cationic surfactant (4) adsorbs substance other than the nucleic acids so as to adjust the electric charge of the substance, and the adsorption of the cationic surfactant (4) is adjusted by the added amount of nonionic surfactant (3). Alternatively, nucleic acids are contacted with a separation medium (108), and then recovered by a filter (104) whose cross sectional area is decreased in the direction of migration.

Abstract: In a method for concentration and purification method of nucleic acids using electrophoresis, cationic surfactant is added to a sample containing nucleic acids so as to adjust electric charge of impurities in the sample, and then the sample is placed in an electric field for electrophoresis so as to concentrate and purify the nucleic acids. The cationic surfactant (4) adsorbs substance other than the nucleic acids so as to adjust the electric charge of the substance, and the adsorption of the cationic surfactant (4) is adjusted by the added amount of nonionic surfactant (3). Alternatively, nucleic acids are contacted with a separation medium (108), and then recovered by a filter (104) whose cross sectional area is decreased in the direction of migration.

Abstract: In a method for amplifying a DNA, comprising performing PCR using a sense primer and an antisense primer, PCR is performed in the presence of an additional sense primer comprising the sense primer and an oligodeoxyribonucleotide having a first additional sequence and ligated to the 5? end of the sense primer and an additional antisense primer comprising the antisense primer and an oligodeoxyribonucleotide having a second additional sequence complementary to the first additional sequence and ligated to the 5? end of the antisense primer; a Tm value of the additional sequences is lower than Tm values of the sense primer and the antisense primer; and annealing temperature in PCR is initially set to be a temperature at which the additional sequences do not anneal and changed in the course of PCR to a temperature at which the additional sequences anneal to each other.

Abstract: The conventional method of purifying and concentrating nucleic acids, because of dangerous chemicals, requires elaborate chemical equipment to result in restriction of environment available. Further, time-consuming operation is inevitable and high-speed centrifugation, etc. are needed to cause automation to be difficult and to cause high purification degree to be unattainable. Still further, in the purification method using a column/filter, application of dusty samples tends to invite clogging to lead to a drop of purification efficiency, and centrifugation or suction operation is needed to cause automation to be difficult. In this invention, surfactants (3,4) are adsorbed on impurity (2) contained in a sample, so that the impurity (2) conducts behavior different from that of nucleic acid (1) to thereby attain separation of the impurity (2) from the nucleic acid (1).

Abstract: Nucleic acids suitable for PCR amplification are isolated from a sample easily and rapidly by dissolving the sample in a buffer containing surfactant and salt, heating the obtained solution, subjecting the heated solution to gel filtration; and collecting a fraction containing nucleic acids.

Abstract: In a method for amplifying a DNA, comprising performing PCR using a sense primer and an antisense primer, PCR is performed in the presence of an additional sense primer comprising the sense primer and an oligodeoxyribonucleotide having a first additional sequence and ligated to the 5? end of the sense primer and an additional antisense primer comprising the antisense primer and an oligodeoxyribonucleotide having a second additional sequence complementary to the first additional sequence and ligated to the 5? end of the antisense primer; a Tm value of the additional sequences is lower than Tm values of the sense primer and the antisense primer; and annealing temperature in PCR is initially set to be a temperature at which the additional sequences do not anneal and changed in the course of PCR to a temperature at which the additional sequences anneal to each other.

Abstract: In a method for concentration and purification method of nucleic acids using electrophoresis, cationic surfactant is added to a sample containing nucleic acids so as to adjust electric charge of impurities in the sample, and then the sample is placed in an electric field for electrophoresis so as to concentrate and purify the nucleic acids. The cationic surfactant (4) adsorbs substance other than the nucleic acids so as to adjust the electric charge of the substance, and the adsorption of the cationic surfactant (4) is adjusted by the added amount of nonionic surfactant (3). Alternatively, nucleic acids are contacted with a separation medium (108), and then recovered by a filter (104) whose cross sectional area is decreased in the direction of migration.

Abstract: Due to the recent decipherment of the human genome, various relations between life processes and genes have been analyzed. Consequently, medical importance shifts from pathology to etiology, and from medical treatment to prevention. Hereupon, the gene test technology becomes an important basis. A pretreatment device for pretreating a specimen comprises a specimen introducing portion, a holding portion, a wash storage, an elute storage, and a discharging portion in order to prevent a loss of sensitivity during a pretreatment process of the nucleic acid test, to easily automate the pretreatment process, and to decrease the cost thereof, thereby serving as a familiar system for the gene test.