Method of minimizing contamination in amplification reactions using a reaction tube with a penetrable membrane
First Claim
1. In a method for amplifying and detecting nucleic acid materials comprising the steps of:
- a) adding a sample suspected to contain a target nucleic acid material to an amplification vessel along with oligonucleotide probes or primers, at least one of which bears a detectable reporter group, for amplification of said suspected target nucleic acid to form a reaction mixture;
b) sealing the reaction mixture inside said vessel by closing a tightly sealing cap;
c) amplifying the target nucleic acid material within said vessel; and
d) detecting the presence of amplified target nucleic acid by detection of said detectable reporter group;
wherein the improvement comprisesi) providing said sealing cap with a membrane that is penetrable by a pipettor probe;
ii) removing a portion of the reaction mixture from said vessel for detection wherein said removing is effected by piercing said cap membrane with a pipettor probe aspirating said portion of the reaction mixture into said pipettor; and
iii) dispensing said portion in a distinct detection compartment without uncapping said vessel, thereby avoiding drops or aerosols of the amplified material which might contaminate the environment, unreacted samples or reagents.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable reaction vessel for performing nucleic acid amplification assay. The disposable reaction vessel has a penetrable cap that can be penetrated by an automated pipettor to aspirate a portion of an amplified reaction product. The disposable reaction vessel contains the reagents necessary to perform a nucleic acid amplification assay. A patient specimen is added to the unit dose reagents in the disposable reaction vessel and the penetrable cap is closed. The disposable reaction vessel containing the reaction mixture and the specimen undergoes amplification, typically by placing it in a thermal cycler. After amplification the intact disposable reaction vessel is transferred to an automated analyzer where an automated pipettor penetrates the closure membrane and aspirates a portion of the amplified sample for further processing, without removal of the reaction vessel cap. This avoids the generation of potentially contaminating aerosols or droplets.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a method for amplifying and detecting nucleic acid materials comprising the steps of:
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a) adding a sample suspected to contain a target nucleic acid material to an amplification vessel along with oligonucleotide probes or primers, at least one of which bears a detectable reporter group, for amplification of said suspected target nucleic acid to form a reaction mixture; b) sealing the reaction mixture inside said vessel by closing a tightly sealing cap; c) amplifying the target nucleic acid material within said vessel; and d) detecting the presence of amplified target nucleic acid by detection of said detectable reporter group; wherein the improvement comprises i) providing said sealing cap with a membrane that is penetrable by a pipettor probe; ii) removing a portion of the reaction mixture from said vessel for detection wherein said removing is effected by piercing said cap membrane with a pipettor probe aspirating said portion of the reaction mixture into said pipettor; and iii) dispensing said portion in a distinct detection compartment without uncapping said vessel, thereby avoiding drops or aerosols of the amplified material which might contaminate the environment, unreacted samples or reagents. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification