Strategy for extracting DNA from clay soil and detecting a specific target sequence via selective enrichment and real-time (quantitative) PCR amplification.

We present a simple strategy for isolating and accurately enumerating target DNA from high-clay-content soils: desorption with buffers, an optional magnetic capture hybridization step, and quantitation via real-time PCR. With the developed technique, microg quantities of DNA were extracted from mg samples of pure kaolinite and a field clay soil.