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Method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample

  • US 8,883,455 B2
  • Filed: 09/11/2013
  • Issued: 11/11/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting the presence of a nucleic acid in a sample, the method comprising performing within a housing of a self-contained, stand-alone analyzer the automated steps of:

  • a) contacting the sample with a solid support such that a complex comprising the nucleic acid and the solid support is formed, wherein the solid support comprises a magnetically-responsive particle, and wherein the complex is suspended in a fluid component of the sample;

    b) after step a), subjecting the sample containing the complex to a magnetic field;

    c) while the sample containing the complex is subjected to the magnetic field, aspirating at least a portion of the fluid component of the sample from the complex, thereby purifying the nucleic acid;

    d) forming a reaction mixture with a pipette of the analyzer, wherein the reaction mixture comprises the nucleic acid purified in step c) and all reagents required to perform a nucleic acid amplification;

    e) synthesizing amplification products in the reaction mixture, each of the amplification products comprising a nucleotide sequence contained in the nucleic acid or its complement;

    f) exposing an amplification product that is one of the amplification products synthesized in step e) to a probe, such that a hybrid comprising the probe and the amplification product is formed in a mixture containing the probe and the amplification products; and

    g) detecting the formation of the hybrid, wherein the formation of the hybrid in the mixture is an indication of the presence of the nucleic acid in the sample.

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