The easy-to-use Aurum plasmid mini kit improves the efficiency and throughput of plasmid purifications with a simple bind-wash-elute protocol using silica membranes. Lysed bacterial cultures can be cleared either by centrifugation or by vacuum filtration with the Aurum vacuum manifold. The clarified lysates are then applied to plasmid binding columns and plates, where DNA is bound, then washed, and finally eluted — all in <10 minutes. The purified plasmid DNA can be immediately used in any downstream molecular biology application.