Method for protecting personal information

• US 20040063111A1
• Filed: 07/22/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshikazu Shiba
• Original Assignee: Toshikazu Shiba
• Inventors: Shiba, Toshikazu, Ohuchi, Azuma
• Granted Patent: US 7,923,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/68 involving nucleic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6806 Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay C12Q1/6804 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2563/185 Nucleic acid dedicated to use as a hidden marker/bar code, e.g. inclusion of nucleic acids to mark art objects or animals

Abstract

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method capable of protecting personal information.

A method for protecting personal information that can be obtained by analyzing a biological sample is provided, wherein the method comprises adding to the biological sample a component obstructing the analysis of another component that provides personal information to be protected. Thus, the analysis of personal information such as genomic information without the person'"'"'s consent can be technically prevented.

In addition, the present invention provides a technique for not only simply protecting personal information, but also for analyzing the once protected personal information as needed.

Claims

1. A method for protecting personal information obtained by analyzing a biological sample, wherein said method comprises adding to the biological sample, a component that obstructs the analysis of another component that provides personal information to be protected.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said personal information to be protected is genetic information.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said component that provides genetic information is a nucleic acid or a protein.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said nucleic acid is genome or mRNA.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said component obstructing analysis is a DNA comprising a region having a nucleotide sequence that provides personal information.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said nucleotide sequence that provides personal information contains a mutation.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein said component obstructing analysis is at least one of the DNA analysis obstructers selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a random primer,

(b) an inhibitor of the DNA-polymerase reaction,

(c) an inhibitor of nucleic acid synthesis, and

(d) a nuclease.

8. A method for analyzing personal information protected by the method according to claim 1, wherein said method comprises the step of removing the obstruction of the component that was added to obstruct the analysis.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said obstructing component is DNA, and wherein the method comprises the step of removing the obstruction of the DNA by selective separation, decomposition, or modification thereof.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the method comprises the step of selectively separating said DNA by the affinity binding to a tag added in advance to the DNA.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said tag is an affinity binding substance and/or an artificially added nucleotide sequence.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said obstructing component is DNA comprising a restriction enzyme recognition sequence that is not present in the nucleotide sequence to be analyzed, and wherein said method comprises the step of removing the obstruction by reacting with a restriction enzyme to selectively decompose the DNA.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

(a) adding to a biological sample a DNA comprising (i) a nucleotide sequence that provides personal information and (ii) a mutation as the component that obstructs the analysis,

(b) analyzing the nucleotide sequence that provides personal information of a nucleic acid contained in said biological sample using a primer and/or probe, wherein said primer and/or probe is capable of hybridizing to the nucleic acid derived from the biological sample, but the hybridization to the DNA added in step (a) is inhibited due to the mutation contained in said DNA, and

(c) analyzing personal information contained in the nucleic acid derived from the biological sample using the hybridization level of said probe and/or primer as an index.

14. A kit for analyzing protected personal information, which comprises a means for removing the obstructing action of the component added to obstruct the analysis.

15. A biological sample-collecting vessel for protecting personal information obtained by analyzing a biological sample, wherein said vessel is filled in advance with a component that obstructs the analysis of another component that provides the personal information to be protected.

16. The vessel according to claim 15 provided with a means for indicating that the analysis of the component that provides personal information to be protected has been obstructed.

17. The vessel according to claim 15 further provided with a means for indicating information necessary for removing said obstruction.

18. The vessel according to claim 17, wherein said indication has been encoded.

19. A database that connects (a) biological sample-collecting vessels for protecting personal information that can be obtained by analyzing a biological sample, wherein the vessels are filled in advance with a component that obstructs the analysis of another component that provides personal information to be protected, and (b) a means necessary for removing the influence of said obstructing component for each of the vessels.

21. A sample-analyzing device provided with the following means:

a) a means for reading an indication on a biological sample-collecting vessel that (a) is equipped with a means for indicating information capable of specifying the vessel, and

(b) is a biological sample-collecting vessel for protecting personal information obtained by analyzing a biological sample, wherein said vessel is filled in advance with a component that obstructs the analysis of another component that provides personal information to be protected,

b) a means for disclosing a means necessary for removing the influence of an obstructing component contained in said vessel by inquiring the database according to claim 19 about information capable of specifying the vessel,

c) a means for implementing the means disclosed by the means of b) that is necessary for removing the obstruction, and

d) a means for analyzing the biological sample.

22. The device according to claim 21, which comprises inquiring the database according to claim 19 about information capable of specifying a vessel via a network.

26. A method for analyzing a biological sample, wherein the method comprises:

a) reading an indication on a vessel for collecting a biological sample equipped with a means for indicating information capable of specifying said vessel for protecting personal information obtained by analyzing a biological sample, wherein said vessel has been filled in advance with a component that obstructs the analysis of another component that provides personal information to be protected,

b) disclosing a means necessary for removing the influence of a obstructing component contained in said vessel by inquiring the database according to claim 19 about information capable of specifying the vessel,

c) implementing the means necessary for removing the obstruction based on the information read in step b), and

d) analyzing the sample.

20. A method for protecting personal information, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

(1) connecting (a) biological sample-collecting vessels for protecting personal information that can be obtained by analyzing a biological sample, wherein the vessels are filled in advance with a component that obstructs the analysis of another component that provides personal information to be protected, with (b) a means necessary for removing the influence of said obstructing component for each of the vessels, and

(2) disclosing, according to a request from an individual who requires analysis, a means necessary for removing the influence of said obstructing component for a specific vessel.

23. A test sample-analyzing device equipped with the following means:

a) a means for reading an indication on a biological sample-collecting vessel equipped with a means for indicating information necessary for removing the influence of an obstructing means, wherein said vessel for protecting personal information that can be obtained by analyzing a biological sample has been filled in advance with a component that obstructs the analysis of another component that provides personal information to be protected,

b) a means for implementing a means necessary for removing the obstruction based on information read in step a), and

c) a means for analyzing the test sample.

24. The analytical device according to claim 23, which comprises a means for decoding the encoded information necessary for removing the influence of said obstruction means.

25. The analytical device according to claim 24 comprising a means for inquiring about information necessary for the decoding via a network.

27. A method for analyzing a biological sample, wherein the method comprises:

a) reading an indication on a biological sample-collecting vessel equipped with a means for indicating information necessary for removing the influence of an obstructing means, wherein said vessel for protecting the personal information obtained by analyzing said biological sample has been filled in advance with a component that obstructs the analysis of a component that provides the personal information to be protected,

b) implementing a means necessary for removing the obstruction based on the information read in step a), and

c) analyzing the sample.