The MagMAX Wastewater Ultra Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit with Virus Enrichment enables efficient, high-throughput virus enrichment and nucleic acid extraction from wastewater samples. The kit utilizes Dynabeads and MagMAX magnetic-bead technology, ensuring reproducible recovery of high-quality nucleic acid compatible with a broad range of applications, including real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing.

Features of the MagMAX Wastewater Ultra Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit include:
• Automation-ready concentration and extraction protocols designed for KingFisher Flex, KingFisher APEX, and KingFisher Duo systems
• Fast procedure allows for virus enrichment and nucleic acid extraction for 24 wastewater samples in 75 minutes
• Dynabeads wastewater virus enrichment is used to concentrate wastewater before extraction
• Elution volumes ranging from 50 to 100 μL

Wastewater and sewage surveillance is a useful tool for monitoring the regional spread of viral and bacterial pathogens. Surveillance at different levels of operation, such as a university dormitory or an entire city, has been shown to be a reliable way to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus before it becomes widespread in a population. Wastewater surveillance can be used to monitor other viral targets such as influenza and norovirus. However, wastewater and sewage samples are some of the most challenging when it comes to extraction of RNA and DNA, until now.

Automated virus enrichment
Up to 10 mL of wastewater can be processed, with virus concentration followed by extraction. When the virus enrichment and extraction process is performed using a KingFisher Flex or APEX system, 24 samples can be processed in just 75 minutes. When the protocol is completed, pure RNA and DNA is concentrated in 50–100 μL of elution buffer. If other concentration methods, such as ultracentrifugation or precipitation are desired, the MagMAX Wastewater Ultra Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit is available for 200 μL to 500 mL input volumes and includes only extraction reagents, enabling users to use a concentration method of choice, filtration, or non-concentrated wastewater samples.

Benefits of MagMAX magnetic bead–based purification
Magnetic beads offer many benefits compared to other technologies for isolating nucleic acid. Beads bind the DNA and RNA more efficiently than glass-fiber filters, resulting in higher and more consistent yields. Additionally, because filters and vacuum manifolds are not used, there is no risk of filter clogging due to cellular particulates in samples.

The Dynabeads MyOne Silane contained in the MagMAX Wastewater Ultra Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit have an optimized silica-like surface chemistry with high specific surface area that allows efficient kinetics and high sensitivity in nucleic acid capture. These aspects make Dynabeads MyOne Silane ideal for the recovery of RNA and DNA. Once captured, these nucleic acids can then be eluted in of 50–100 μL of elution buffer for use in downstream applications.