Selection Guide by Sample Type

Selecting the appropriate nucleic acid extraction system requires balancing sample type, input volume and downstream application requirements such as PCR, qPCR or next-generation sequencing (NGS). Different sample matrices introduce distinct challenges, including low nucleic acid abundance, inhibitor presence or sample variability, which directly influence method selection.

Magen provides a comprehensive portfolio of sample preparation solutions based on silica membrane and magnetic bead technologies, supporting both manual and automated workflows. All systems are developed with a focus on consistent performance across diverse biological samples.

This guide is designed to help laboratories and distributors quickly identify suitable Magen kits based on sample type and processing requirements, and to navigate between column-based and magnetic bead–based workflows where appropriate.

For workflow-oriented guidance by research area, including oncology, pathogen detection and plant research, please refer to our Application pages.

Cell-free

DNA Silica column technology	DNA Magnetic bead technology	RNA Silica column technology	RNA Magnetic bead technology
D3180 micro (0.6 mL)	12917 rich mini (0.6 mL) Rich small fragment, remove >500 bp	R4316 Circulating DNA/RNA, includes miRNA (1–5 mL)	—
D3181 mini (1 mL)	12927 rich maxi (5 mL) Rich small fragment, remove >500 bp	—	—
⭐ IVD3182 midi (1–5 mL, vacuum)	IVD5432 mini (0.2–0.6 mL)	—	—
D3182D midi (1–5 mL, spin)	⭐ IVD5435 maxi (1–6 mL)	—	—

Blood

DNA Silica column technology	DNA Magnetic bead technology	RNA Silica column technology	RNA Magnetic bead technology
D3018 Universal (200 µL)	D6310C Fast Blood (200–300 µL; 16/32/48 extractor)	IVD4121 Total RNA (0.5–1.5 mL) Total RNA, including miRNA, or large/small RNA fractionation Two-column workflow with DNase Recommended for clinical tumor tissue or DNA-sensitive projects	⭐ R6611 Blood RNA (1–1.5 mL blood / 0.5–1 mL bone marrow)
⭐ D3111 mini (<200 µL)	⭐ D6311 Blood (<200 µL; 96 extractor)	⭐ R4161 Classic Blood RNA (1–1.5 mL)	R6611C Total RNA + miRNA (<50 µL whole blood)
D3113 midi (<2 mL)	IVD3101 micro (200 µL)	R4163 Liquid RNA (miRNA) (250 µL serum/plasma) Total RNA + miRNA Chloroform/MagZol workflow	R6613 Blood RNA II (1 mL fresh or frozen blood / 0.5–1 mL bone marrow) Suitable for blood preservation and transportation workflows
D3115 maxi (<10 mL)	IVD3102 Universal (200 µL)	R4168 PAXgene Blood (2.5 mL) For PAXgene Blood Tube samples	R6628 Serum miRNA (0.3–0.5 mL serum/plasma)
D3117 96 plate (<200 µL)	—	—	—
D3125 micro (1–100 µL)	—		—

Tissue / Cultured Cell

DNA Silica column technology	DNA Magnetic bead technology	RNA Silica column technology	RNA Magnetic bead technology
⭐ D3018 Universal (<20 mg / <2 × 10⁶ cells)	IVD3101 micro (1–10 mg / <1 × 10⁶ cells)	R4011 Total RNA (<20 mg soft tissue / <1 × 10⁷ cells) Use one column	⭐ IVD3020 Universal (10–20 mg / 3–5 × 10⁶ cells / 10 mL urine)
D3113 midi (<200 mg / <5 × 10⁷ cells)	⭐ IVD3102 Universal (<20 mg / <2 × 10⁶ cells)	⭐ R4111 Total RNA Plus (<20 mg soft tissue / <1 × 10⁷ cells) Two-column workflow with gDNA removal column	IVD3020B Universal B (<10 mg / <3 × 10⁶ cells) Automation-optimized workflow with no pause
D3115 maxi (<1 g / <2 × 10⁸ cells)	⭐ D6359D Forensic (<10 µL; bone, hair, fingernail, seminal stain, etc.)	IVD4121 Total RNA (0.5–1.5 mL) Total RNA, including miRNA, or large/small RNA fractionation Two-column workflow with DNase Recommended for clinical tumor tissue or DNA-sensitive projects	R6623 Universal RNA II (10–50 mg / <5 × 10⁶ cells) MagZol-based workflow
D3117 96 plate (<15 mg)	D6314 Nanopore-compatible DNA workflow	R4130 Universal RNA (<100 mg tissue, muscle) MagZol lysis and phase separation	—
D3121 mini (<25 mg / <5 × 10⁶ cells)	—	⭐ R4310 Universal miRNA Total RNA, including miRNA, or separate purification of miRNA and RNA >200 nt MagZol lysis and phase separation	—
D3125 micro (<10 mg)	—	R4311 Cell miRNA (<10 mg / <5 × 10⁶ cells) Chemical lysis miRNA workflow	—
D3129 Insect (<10 mg)	—		—
D3139 Insect 96 plate (<10 mg)	—		—
⭐ D3124 Bone (100–200 mg)	—	—	—
⭐ R5111 DNA/RNA co-isolation (<30 mg soft tissue / <1 × 10⁷ cells)	—		—

FFPE

DNA Silica column technology	DNA Magnetic bead technology	RNA Silica column technology	RNA Magnetic bead technology
⭐ D3126 FFPE DNA	D6323B FFPE DNA Removal of short fragments; optimized for NGS	R4143 FFPE RNA	IVD3022 FFPE RNA
IVD5116 DNA/RNA co-isolation	D6323D High Pure FFPE DNA For complex samples requiring higher purity	IVD4144 FFPE RNA Plus (with DNase)	—
—	IVD3026 DNA/RNA co-isolation Higher RNA integrity	—	—
—	⭐ R6327 DNA/RNA co-isolation Higher DNA/RNA yield	—	—

Plant

DNA Silica column technology	DNA Magnetic bead technology	RNA Silica column technology	RNA Magnetic bead technology
D3163 maxi (3 g) CTAB-based workflow for complex samples	⭐ D6351 Plant (100 mg)	R4014 Fruit (<150 mg fruit or seed) Phenol + column workflow For fruit and starch-rich samples	R6641 Plant (<50 mg)
D3164 Safe (100 mg) Without chloroform; routine extraction	D6352 Seed	⭐ R4150 Plus (50–150 mg) For polyphenol- and polysaccharide-rich plant samples Dual-column workflow without chloroform First choice for unknown or variable plant samples	IVD3020 Universal (<100 mg)
D3167 Safe 96 plate (50 mg) Without chloroform; routine extraction	—	R4151 mini (<150 mg) Without chloroform; routine extraction	IVD3020B Universal B (<30 mg)
⭐ D3187 mini (150 mg) CTAB-based workflow for complex samples	—	R4152 midi (<1 g) Without chloroform; routine extraction	—
—	—	⭐ R4165 HP (<200 mg) include miRNA CTAB-based workflow for difficult samples when standard methods result in low yield or purity	—

Microbial

DNA Silica column technology	DNA Magnetic bead technology	RNA Silica column technology	RNA Magnetic bead technology
IVD3141 Stool	D5131 Bacterial	R4181 Bacterial	R6626 Stool
D3142 Soil	D6356 Soil	R4182 Yeast	—
D3144 Stool/Soil 96 plate	D6364 Stool	R4183 Soil	—
D3146 Bacterial	—	R4185 Stool	—
D3147 Yeast	—	—	—
D3148 Microbiome	—	—	—

Virus / Pathogen

DNA Silica column technology	DNA Magnetic bead technology	RNA Silica column technology	RNA Magnetic bead technology
—	—	R4171 Viral RNA (140 µL)	⭐ IVD5412 Viral DNA/RNA
—	—	IVD4173 Viral DNA/RNA (200 µL)	IVD6672 Pathogen DNA/RNA Pathogen PCR detection
—	—	⭐ IVD4175 Viral DNA/RNA Rapid extraction	IVD6672C Pathogen RNA Designed for tuberculosis (TB) detection
—	—	⭐ IVD4179 Pathogen DNA/RNA mNGS-oriented workflow with host background nucleic acid reduction and low-background reagent system	⭐ R6672B Pathogen DNA/RNA (0.5 mL) tNGS-oriented with low-background reagent system
—	—	—	⭐ R6672C Pathogen DNA/RNA Enrich mNGS-oriented workflow with host background nucleic acid reduction and low-background reagent system

DNA

RNA

Plasmid DNA

DNA/RNA Coisolation

Spin Column

Magnetic Bead

Enzyme

Chemical

Consumable

Homogenizing Tube/Bead

Related Solution

Instruments & equipment

Precast kit for 96 machine

Precast kit for 32/48 machine

Preserve Tube

Preserve Reagent

Technical Solution

Purchase Guide

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