Silica Magnetic Beads for DNA Purification: CamBeads Technology Overview

Cambrian Bioworks offers kits validated for FFPE (Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded) tissue, whole blood, cell cultures, bacterial cells, and plasma. Each kit is formulated specifically for its sample matrix to maximize nucleic acid recovery and purity, making the product range suitable for oncology, clinical diagnostics, and translational research applications.

Purified nucleic acids from Cambrian Bioworks kits are validated for Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), PCR and qPCR, digital PCR (ddPCR), microarray analysis, RNA-Seq, gene expression profiling, liquid biopsy assay development, and mutation analysis. High purity ratios (A260/280 of 1.8–2.1) and high RIN values (8.6–9.7 for blood RNA) ensure compatibility with the most sensitive downstream workflows.

Workflow times vary by kit: the FFPE gDNA and Whole Blood gDNA kits complete in 28 minutes on the Manta platform; the FFPE RNA kit completes in 28 minutes post-lysis; Blood RNA extraction takes approximately 50 minutes on-deck; and cfDNA extraction with the OncoSeek kit takes approximately 55 minutes. All kits are designed to minimize hands-on time through automation.

Yes. All kits are designed for use with the Manta automated nucleic acid extraction platform, which uses pre-filled, non-reusable cartridges. The Manta system supports 1 to 32 samples per run with flexible throughput, and the FFPE RNA kit is also compatible with 96-well format systems. Automation integration support is available directly from Cambrian Bioworks.

The Cambrian FFPE RNA Isolation Kit consistently delivers a DV200 greater than 70%, which is the gold standard metric for FFPE-derived RNA quality. RNA yields of approximately 5,000 ng (Qubit) from just four 10 µm FFPE tissue curls are achievable. Purity ratios of A260/280 1.9–2.1 and A260/230 1.5–2.0 ensure compatibility with expression profiling and RNA-Seq applications.

The OncoSeek kit delivers 5–20× higher cfDNA yield from just 1 mL of plasma, whereas leading competitors typically require 2 mL for comparable results. Its selective bead-binding conditions preferentially capture 150–200 bp tumor-derived cfDNA fragments, minimizing genomic DNA contamination and enriching ctDNA content — making it particularly powerful for MRD detection, liquid biopsy, and digital PCR workflows.