DNA extraction efficiency depends on the method (kit) used. Average DNA yields (black line) and qPCR amplification results of samples containing B. anthracis (dhp61, grey columns) or F. tularensis (16S FraTul, blue columns) cells, obtained with the following 20 commercial kits: (1) MasterPure Complete DNA and RNA Purification kit; (2) In-house protocol, based on the DNA Investiagtor kit; (3) innu PREP DNA Mini kit; (4) GenElute Bacterial Genomic DNA kit; (5) DNeasy Ultra Clean Microbial kit; (6) QIAamp DNA Mini kit; (7) NucleoSpin Microbial DNA Mini kit; (8) DNeasy Blood and Tissue kit; (9) MagJet Genomic DNA kit; (10) PureLink Microbiome DNA Purification kit; (11) Wizard Genomic DNA Purification kit; (12) QIAamp Cador pathogen Mini kit; (13) DNA Mini Prep; (14) DNeasy PowerSoil kit; (15) nexttec 1-step DNA isolation kit for Bacteria; (16) QIAamp UCP Pathogen Mini kit; (17) RTP Bacteria DNA Mini kit; (18) smart DNA prep; (19) Echolution Tissue DNA Micro kit; and, (20) QIAmp DNA Microbiome kit. Data are presented as the mean of triplicates and the error bars show standard deviations.