WE CLAIM
1. A method of capturing a sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from a
biological sample, comprising:
contacting a biological sample with a lysis solution, where the biological sample comprises at least a sperm cell or a sperm cell lysate, wherein the lysed biological sample solution comprises a protamine-DNA complex;
applying at least a protamine-specific antibody to the lysed biological sample, wherein the protamine-specific antibody binds to the protamine-DNA complex of the lysed sperm cell to form an antibody- protamine- DNA complex;
capturing the antibody-protamine-DNA complex; and
detecting the sperm DNA from the captured antibody-protamine-DNA complex.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing or sequestering the lysis solution prior to applying the protamine-specific antibody.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lysis solution comprises a reducing agent, a detergent or a combination thereof.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the lysis solution comprises a reducing agent selected from dithiothreitol (DTT), tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP) or a combination thereof.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the lysis solution comprises a detergent selected from sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sarkosyl.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein the lysis solution comprises 40mM dithiothreitol (DTT), 0.5% to 2 % sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising applying a sequestration agent after cell lysis to sequester detergent prior to applying the protamine-specific antibody to the lysed sperm cell.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sequestration agent comprises ligand-activated core beads coated with size exclusion shell, alpha-cyclodextrin, size exclusion resin or combinations thereof.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the protamine-specific antibody binds to the protamine-nucleic acid complex during incubation in a range from about 4°C to about 37°C.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the protamine-specific antibody binds to the protamine-nucleic acid complex during incubation for a time in a range from about 10 minutes to 4 hrs.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing of the antibody-protamine-DNA complex is achieved by a capturing agent, wherein the capturing agent is pre-coupled with the protamine-specific antibody.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing of the antibody-protamine-DNA complex is achieved by further adding a capturing agent, wherein the capturing agent binds to the protamine-specific antibody.
13. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein the capturing agent comprises a secondary antibody, agarose beads, paramagnetic beads, protein A, streptavidin, sephadex, glass bead, cellulose, nitrocellulose, quartz, a lateral flow strip or combinations thereof.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said capturing agent is a lateral flow strip and wherein:
following said contacting step as defined in claim 1 said biological sample is applied to a first zone of said lateral flow strip; and,

said applying step as defined in claim 1 takes place when said biological sample travels along said lateral flow strip as far as a second zone of said lateral flow strip which comprises bound protamine-specific antibody.
15. The method as defined in claim 14 which further comprises the step of shearing DNA in said biological sample prior to said applying step as defined in claim 1.
16. The method as defined in claim 15 wherein said shearing step is carried out by mechanical, chemical or enzymatic means.
17. The method as defined in claim 16 wherein said shearing step is carried out by enzymatic means.
18. The method as defined in any one of claims 14-17 wherein said first zone of said lateral flow strip comprises a detecting antibody.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the capturing agent is a secondary antibody specific to the protamine-specific antibody.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the captured antibody-protamine-DNA complex is washed to remove unbound material while retaining the protamine-DNA complex.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising incubating the captured antibody-protamine-DNA complex in an ion exchange resin.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the captured antibody-protamine-DNA complex is incubated at about 95°C for at least about 10 minutes.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein a reporter moiety is coupled to the protamine-specific antibody and wherein the detection of the reporter moiety indicates the presence of sperm DNA in the sample.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the reporter moiety comprises a chromophore moiety, a fluorescent moiety, a phosphorescence moiety, an affinity probe, a magnetic probe, a paramagnetic probe, a metallic probe or combinations thereof.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection of the sperm DNA comprises one or more amplification reactions of the sperm DNA.
26. The method of claim 25, further comprising analyzing the amplified DNA.
27. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological sample further comprises epithelial cells, somatic cells, blood cells, or combinations thereof.
28. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological sample is selected from a forensic sample comprising sperm cells.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological sample is affixed to a solid substrate.
30. The method of claim 1, wherein biological sample is acquired at least three days post ejaculation.
31. A method of capturing sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from a biological sample, comprising:
providing the biological sample comprising at least a sperm cell, a partially lysed sperm cell or a sperm cell lysate, wherein the sperm cell, partially lysed sperm cell or sperm cell lysate comprises a protamine-DNA complex;
contacting a lysis solution to the sample to lyse the sperm cell or partially lysed sperm cell;
applying at least a protamine-specific antibody to the lysed sperm cell, wherein the protamine-specific antibody binds to the protamine-DNA complex of the lysed sperm cell to form an antibody- protamine- DNA complex;

capturing the antibody-protamine-DNA complex by adding a capturing agent; and
detecting the sperm DNA from the captured antibody-protamine-DNA complex by a DNA amplification reaction.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the biological sample is affixed to a solid substrate.
33. The method of claim 31 wherein the the biological sample is acquired at least three days post ejaculation.
34. A method of purifying deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from a biological
sample, comprising:
providing the sample comprising a protamine-DNA complex;
applying at least a protamine-specific antibody to the protamine-DNA complex to form an antibody- protamine- DNA complex;
capturing the antibody-protamine-DNA complex using a capturing agent; and
purifying DNA from the captured antibody-protamine-DNA complex.
35. The method of claim 34 wherein the biological sample is affixed to a solid substrate.
36. A method of claim 34 wherein the biological sample is acquired at least three days post ejaculation.
37. A kit for capturing a sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in a biological sample comprising:
a protamine specific antibody;

a capture agent; and lysis buffer.
38. The kit of claim 37 wherein the capturing agent comprises a lateral flow strip, a magnetic bead, agarose beads or an affinity column.
39. The kit of claim 38 wherein the capturing agent is a lateral flow strip.
40. The kit as defined in claim 39 wherein said lateral flow strip comprises
a first zone for application of a biological sample; and,
a second zone comprising bound protamine-specific antibody.
41. The kit as defined in claim 39 or claim 40 wherein said first zone comprises an enzyme for shearing DNA in said biological sample and/or a detecting antibody.
42. The kit as defined in claim 41 wherein said enzyme and said detecting antibody if present are in dried form.
43. The kit of claim 37 further comprising a sequestration agent.
44. The kit of claim 43 wherein the sequestration agent comprises ligand-activated core beads coated with size exclusion shell, alpha-cyclodextrin, size exclusion resin or combinations thereof.
45. The kit of claim 37 further comprising at least one of a reducing agent, a detergent, or a combination thereof.