Device and method for DNA amplification and assay
First Claim
1. An apparatus for carrying out a homogeneous nucleic acid amplification and nucleic acid assay on a liquid biological sample, comprising:
- a sample cell for receiving a liquid biological sample, said sample cell having a sample chamber in said sample cell;
a first opening which serves as a sample port for admitting said liquid biological sample into said sample chamber;
a second opening which serves as an air vent for allowing air to be displaced from said sample chamber during admission of said liquid biological sample into said sample cell; and
a dried nucleic acid amplification reagent and a dried homogeneous nucleic acid assay reagent, said reagents being adhered to the interior of said sample chamber for reacting with said liquid biological sample.
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Abstract
A DNA amplification and homogeneous DNA probe assay device is provided which includes a multiplicity of discrete sample cells in a flat "card" format, with each sample cell containing the reagents necessary for both DNA amplification and homogeneous DNA probe assay. The device is particularly suitable for fluorescence polarization DNA probe assays, aid is preferably provided with and integal polarizer to avoid the need for polarizing elements in the related measuring apparatus. The size and geometry of the sample cells allows for a "hot start" of the DNA amplification reaction and thereby avoids mis-priming of the amplification reaction.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for carrying out a homogeneous nucleic acid amplification and nucleic acid assay on a liquid biological sample, comprising:
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a sample cell for receiving a liquid biological sample, said sample cell having a sample chamber in said sample cell; a first opening which serves as a sample port for admitting said liquid biological sample into said sample chamber; a second opening which serves as an air vent for allowing air to be displaced from said sample chamber during admission of said liquid biological sample into said sample cell; and a dried nucleic acid amplification reagent and a dried homogeneous nucleic acid assay reagent, said reagents being adhered to the interior of said sample chamber for reacting with said liquid biological sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11)
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7. An apparatus as claimed in 1, wherein:
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said sample cell is formed in a laminated card-like member having a bottom layer forming a bottom wall of said sample chamber, an apertured middle layer forming side walls of said sample chamber, and a top layer forming an upper wall of said sample chamber, said sample port being formed in said top layer; and said sample cell is one of a plurality of sample cells disposed in a two-dimensional array across the length and width of said card-like member. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification