The invention provides an improved method for the purification of nucleic
acid molecules, which method comprises generating a cellular lysate
containing the nucleic acid; contacting the lysate with an anion
exchanger bound to a solid support matrix under conditions such that the
anion exchanger binds the nucleic acid; followed by eluting the nucleic
acid from the anion exchanger with an aqueous mobile phase comprising an
elution solution; and desalting the eluted nucleic acid such that it is
suitable for downstream applications. The improvement of the method
includes adding in the elution solution a composition such that the pH of
the aqueous mobile phase is between about pH 9 and about pH 13, wherein
the presence of the composition in the elution solution provides an
increase in nucleic acid recovery, as compared with the recovery in the
absence of the composition.