Surface nucleic adds detection

Iron(lll) and other metals can form insoluble complexes with phosphate anion. It is likely that surface metal ions and/or colloidal iron are combining with one or more phosphate groups on the nucleic add fragments. If this happens, the ion-pair process chromatographic separation can be interrapted, causing the peaks to broaden. In extreme cases, it is possible that this metal contamination is so severe that nucleic acid fragments are completely prevented from eluting from the system and no peaks are detected. 

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