The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Terra PCR Direct Polymerase Mix from Takara Bio to determine if it can facilitate DNA amplification directly from male whole blood using two conventional thermal cycling platforms: Streck's Philisa Rapid Thermal Cycler and the Biometra TGradient Thermal Cycler. Purification of DNA prior to PCR analysis is a labor- and time-intensive process. Removal of the purification step will benefit molecular diagnostic laboratories by improving sample turnaround times and expediting time-critical results.

The study results demonstrate that Terra PCR Direct Polymerase Mix successfully amplified a Y-chromosomal sex-determining region (SRY) gene amplicon from male whole blood at all concentrations tested (2.5–30%). Data was obtained using the manufacturer's recommendations with minimal alteration to the PCR protocol. The Philisa Rapid Thermal Cycler completed the standard protocol 30 minutes faster than the Biometra Thermal Cycler due to the difference in ramp rate between thermocyclers.

The figure below shows that the SRY PCR product was successfully amplified for all samples prepared with increasing concentrations of human male whole blood, as indicated by the representative 148 base pair SRY PCR amplicon. Smaller gel bands are primer dimers and not relevant to the amplified SRY product. Band intensity on the gel appeared similar between thermal cyclers regardless of whole blood concentration. Amplification of SRY DNA was approximately 30 minutes faster on the Philisa Thermal Cycler, presumably due to the faster ramp rate.

Agarose gel depicting SRY amplicon detection by PCR with Terra PCR Direct Polymerase Mix using increasing concentrations of human male whole blood. The total amplification time was 55 min for the Philisa Thermal Cycler (top) and 85 min for the Biometra Thermal Cycler (bottom).

The successful amplification of SRY gene fragments from whole blood spiked directly into a PCR tube using the Terra PCR Direct Polymerase Mix was demonstrated. This indicates that Terra PCR Direct Polymerase Mix can be utilized for genomic DNA detection with direct PCR applications using human whole blood as the crude sample matrix.

Testing was performed at Streck Laboratories with Terra PCR Direct Polymerase Mix provided by Takara Bio.

The Terra Direct PCR Polymerase Mix was used as per manufacturer's recommendations, with the following modification: The polymerase extension time was extended to 60 seconds total, rather than the recommended 60 sec/kb of DNA. For sample volumes, blood (1.25–15 µl) was added at the indicated % concentrations (2.5–30%), based on a 50 µl reaction volume. Samples were visualized on a 1.5% agarose gel using ethidium bromide at a 0.5 µg/ml working concentration.

Tests were performed using the SRY primer set:
F: 5'-CGCATTCATCGTGTGGTCTCGCG-3'
R: 5'-CTGTGCCTCCTGGAAGAATGGCC-3'

15 ng of human male genomic DNA (Promega) was used as a purified positive template control (PTC). No template control (NTC) was prepared by addition of molecular biology-grade, nuclease-free water (USB Corporation). Human male whole blood samples were analyzed using the Streck Philisa Rapid Thermal Cycler and Philisa PCR Tubes or the Biometra TGradient Thermal Cycler under the following conditions: 98°C, 120 sec; followed by 40 cycles of: 98°C, 10 sec; 60°C, 15 sec; 68°C, 60 sec. The total time for amplification with the Philisa Rapid Thermal Cycler was 55 min. The total time for amplification with the Biometra Thermal Cycler was 1 h 25 min.