https://mpsciences.com/2021/04/08/different-types-of-pcr-reagents/

DNA purification is one of the steps in the sample preparation workflow. It removes salts and enzymes from the lysed samples or PCR products prior to taking a clone and sequencing. It also removes unwanted PCR-induced artefacts such as primer dimers and unincorporated nucleotides. DNA purification is an essential step in molecular biology and requires careful planning in order to obtain high-quality, reliable results.

The process of purifying DNA can be accomplished in various ways. Traditional DNA isolation techniques involve many steps including leukocyte isolation or red blood cell lysis for the removal of heme proteins that block the PCR reaction, deproteinization and treatment with RNAse, ethanol as well as isopropanol precipitation and finally DNA elimination. These procedures require specialized equipment, such as an electrophoresis device and biosafety cabinets due to the intercalating dyes used in gel electrophoresis.

Other DNA purification methods use spin columns or filters with 96 wells to filter out contaminated particle by adsorbing to the surface. These methods can be lengthy especially when you have many samples or if the columns have to be manually refilled.

Dipsticks reduce the number sample processing steps from six to three. They bind nucleic acid with waxy cellulose-based materials and release them once water is present. This method is especially useful for low-resource settings such as remote locations and teaching labs. Its simplicity (30 s per sample) is a great fit for molecular diagnostic tests such as those for disease detection and genotype screening.