anti-heparin and EDTA PCR tricks

[Dan Andrews]

Hi to all in ether-land,

	I have a couple of DNA samples that I have extracted from either EDTA- 
or heparinized blood samples and unsuprisingly they are just about 
impossible to amplify using PCR.  I have tried using microcons and 
ethanol precipitating the DNA to remove the heparin and EDTA, but to no 
avail (I can amplify it just, but not always).  I have heard that you 
can add heparinase to a DNA solution to remove heparin, and you can heat 
treat a DNA solution to remove EDTA.  Has anybody tried these tricks?  
Do they really work?

Thanks, Dan


Dan Andrews
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Canberra, AUSTRALIA