A clear advantage of the X-tractor Gene system is the chemistry used. For example, the Corbett Robotics DX chemistry, consolidates all the reagents needed to extract total DNA from virtually any sample type into a simplified “universal” set. Contrast this with the traditional scenario in which a separate kit is required for each sample type. With DX reagents there is only one kit to purchase instead of many. This consolidation eliminates the waste of different half-used kits that often accumulate in a laboratory. Furthermore, DX reagent and consumable packs include ethanol and tips, items not included in other supplier’s kits.
DX chemistry distinguishes only two general sample types; “liquid” and “tissue”. The standard DX reagent kit is used to extract total DNA from liquids (e.g. blood, plasma, urine, nasal aspirates, etc) and re-suspensions (e.g. buffy coat, cell cultures, bacterial colonies, etc). Solid tissue samples (such as biopsy samples, mouse tail, prawn tissue, bird quill pulp, brain, liver, muscle etc) are processed identically but for the substitution of a different lysis reagent (as outlined in the DX extraction procedure below).
