Provided is inter alia to an electrophoresis assisted method for purifying a target nucleic acid from a nucleic acid containing sample, comprising: (a) binding the target nucleic acid to a solid phase; (b) placing the solid phase with the bound target nucleic acid into a loading chamber of a device, wherein the device comprises a passage which comprises the loading chamber, optionally a liquid permeable separation matrix adjacent to the loading chamber, and a liquid permeable collection matrix and wherein the solid phase with the bound target nucleic acid is present in the loading chamber in a liquid medium comprising at least one water-miscible organic solvent and wherein the target nucleic acid remains bound to the solid phase in said liquid medium; (c) generating an electric field between a cathode and an anode and using a running solution that conducts the electric current, wherein the running solution dilutes the liquid medium comprised in the loading chamber resulting in elution of the bound target nucl
