Method for the isolation of nucleic acid from nucleic acid comprising material, comprising the following steps: a) provision of a container suitable for the isolation of nucleic acid; b) introducing the nucleic acid comprising material and a desiccant into the container; c) drying the nucleic acid comprising material in the container; d) subjecting the nucleic acid comprising material in the container to a method for the isolation of nucleic acid from the nucleic acid comprising material; e) isolation of nucleic acid.