Calcium Phosphate Precipitation - In this approach, the DNA preparation to be used for transfection is first dissolved in a phosphate buffer. Calcium chloride solution is then added to the DNA solution; this leads to the formation of insoluble calcium phosphate, which co precipitates with the DNA.

The calcium phosphate DNA precipitate is added to the cells to be transfected. The precipitate particles are taken in by the cells by phagocytosis. Initially, 1-2% of the cells were transfected by this approach.