The present invention provides a method of isolating nucleic acid from a sample, said method comprising contacting said sample with a solid support, preferably magnetic beads, in the presence of an ethylene glycol multimer consisting of from 2 to 70 ethylene oxide monomers, preferably tetraethylene glycol, whereby soluble nucleic acid in said sample is bound to the surface of the support, and separating said support with bound nucleic acid from the sample. Kits for performance of the invention are also provided.