A DNA extraction template that adapts to your lab's samples.
This DNA extraction template ships with a 10-step protocol, validated kit references, pre-wired purity QC fields, and structured inputs for sample source, input mass, elution volume, yield in nanograms per microliter, and A260/A280 and A260/A230 purity ratios. Your lab edits the configuration to match the sample type and extraction kit you actually run, instead of recording the same protocol in free text every time.
See exactly how the template loads in ELabELN.
This is the live ELabELN experiment view, the same screen your lab works in every day. Switch between a blank start and a fully populated example, then expand any section to see what the template pre-fills.
What this DNA extraction template ships with.
This DNA extraction template ships configured for genomic DNA isolation from cultured mammalian cells using a silica-membrane spin column workflow, with a 10-step protocol covering cell pellet harvest through final elution and Qubit-based concentration confirmation. The protocol assumes a Qiagen DNeasy Blood & Tissue Kit (or equivalent silica column chemistry), Proteinase K digestion at 56°C, ethanol-based binding, two column washes (AW1 + AW2), and elution in low-salt AE buffer or nuclease-free water.
Structured fields capture sample, lysis, and elution metadata in typed inputs (cell line or tissue source, input mass or cell count, lysis temperature and duration, elution volume, eluate concentration in ng/µL, A260/A280 ratio, A260/A230 ratio), so QC outcomes are queryable across preps instead of buried in free text. Kit lots, column batches, and Proteinase K aliquots link to the ELabELN inventory so reagent traceability flows into the experiment record without manual entry. The spreadsheet editor captures NanoDrop or Qubit concentration measurements with calculated total yield, supporting yield-trend analysis across sample batches.
The template is intended as a tested baseline for academic and life sciences research labs running genomic DNA preps for downstream PCR, sequencing, genotyping, or banking applications. Configure the sample source, swap the kit chemistry, adjust the input mass and lysis time, or change the elution volume to match the downstream workflow your lab actually runs. ELabELN's tamper-evident audit trail captures every edit, every step check-off, and every electronic signature, so the resulting record supports reproducibility documentation, multi-PI collaboration, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 review when the lab's quality system requires it.
Every ELN section, pre-populated for DNA extraction.
The template populates the existing ELabELN sections your lab already works with: Main Text, Extra Fields, Steps, Compounds, Links, and more. Your team edits instead of building from scratch.
Main Text
Protocol summary, sample-source notes, and expected yield range, written in the TinyMCE editor.
- Objective + method scaffold
- Sample type and storage notes
- Linked to downstream PCR
Extra Fields
Ten structured, typed fields grouped by Sample, Lysis, and Elution & QC.
- Sample source, input mass
- Lysis temp + duration, elution vol
- Queryable across preps
Steps
Ten-step workflow checklist covering cell harvest through Qubit concentration confirmation.
- Harvest, lyse, bind, wash, elute
- Each tick timestamped
- Spin times pre-filled
Compounds
Spin column kit, Proteinase K, AW1/AW2 wash buffers, AE elution buffer, and ethanol pre-linked from the compound database.
- Kit lot carried automatically
- Column batch + expiry inline
- Low-stock warnings before run
Links & Resources
Pre-wired to your lab's extraction SOPs, kit insert, and downstream PCR experiments.
- gDNA Extraction SOP v2.1
- DNeasy kit insert reference
- Downstream PCR linked
Storage & Files
Eluate storage slots and source cell-pellet storage, plus NanoDrop and Qubit measurement attachments.
- -20 °C eluate storage pre-filled
- Attachment slots labelled
- CSV + PDF ready on save
Use this template for your next gDNA prep.
Edit the configuration to match your sample type and extraction kit, run the prep from a tested baseline, and capture every step in a structured record. Browse other templates built for the workflows real labs actually use.
Common questions
Can I configure the template for my sample type and kit?
Yes. Every section is editable. Swap in tissue, blood, plant material, FFPE, saliva, or bacterial pellets as the sample source. Change the kit chemistry (silica column, magnetic bead, phenol-chloroform, salting-out), adjust the input mass and lysis parameters, or switch to a different elution volume. Save your edits as a private template scoped to your lab, or publish back to the ELabELN template library.
Does the template work with RNA extractions too?
This template is configured specifically for genomic DNA extraction. RNA preps share the structural pattern (lyse, bind, wash, elute) but use different chemistries (TRIzol, on-column DNase digest, RNase-free buffers). The ELabELN RNA-Seq template covers the RNA extraction workflow; for plasmid DNA preps, the bacterial transformation template links downstream to a separate miniprep workflow.
How does the template track yield and purity over time?
The spreadsheet editor captures concentration (NanoDrop or Qubit) and the A260/A280 and A260/A230 purity ratios, with total yield calculated from elution volume. Because the typed fields are queryable across preps, your lab can pull every prep from a specific cell line or kit lot and compare yield and purity, supporting decisions about when to revisit a problematic kit batch or sample-handling step.
Is it included in every ELabELN plan?
Yes. Every published template in the ELabELN library is available to all ELabELN subscribers in both Standard and Suite editions, with unlimited users in either edition.
Can my whole lab use this template?
Yes. Every ELabELN edition includes unlimited users, so the PI, postdocs, grad students, rotating researchers, and visiting collaborators can all use the template without per-seat charges. Granular permissions let the PI control who can edit extractions versus only review them.
How quickly can my lab start extracting in ELabELN?
ELabELN Standard cloud deployment is typically live in 1-2 days. Once the instance is provisioned, this template loads from the library in a single click, with the sample source, kit references, and elution parameters editable to match the preps your lab actually runs.