Hygiena, a global leader in rapid microbial detection, monitoring, and identification technology, introduced the BAX System Free DNA Cleanup Kit, which degrades external contaminant target DNA, further reducing the possibility of false positive results during polymerase chain reaction (PCR) runs.
While PCR allows for precise identification of low levels of target DNA, one criticism of the technique is that it amplifies DNA from both live cells and “free” DNA released from dead cells. “Free” DNA from dead cells can be present due to processing, cleaning, or bacteriophage preparations which are used to control pathogens.