Amgen Inc.

Rodney M Richards

Theodore Jones

Gregory S Brown

David L Snitman

The present invention is directed to a method for detecting an amplification product. Amplification is accomplished through the use of a plurality of detection probes. The present invention is also directed to a method for detecting a target nucleic acid sequence by contacting a test sample with an excess of at least three pairs of nucleic acid amplification probes.

Method and reagents for detecting nucleic acid sequences

The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively eliminate the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.

Method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure

The present invention makes possible the catalytic production of sequence specific oligonucleotides through the use of a specially designed template sequence. The reaction can be made to proceed isothermally in the presence of an excess of nucleoside triphosphates, an agent for polymerization, and a cutting agent. Because the process is catalytic with respect to the template sequence, an unlimited amount of oligonucleotide product can theoretically be generated from a single molecule of template. Where the process is initiated by the presence of a nucleic acid target sequence, the method of the present invention can be used for diagnostic purposes as an amplification method to improve sensitivity. Diagnostic sensitivity can be further enhanced by employing a cascade of these template sequences.

Diagnostic kits for detection of target nucleic acid sequences

Enzymatic synthesis of oligonucleotides

The present invention provides an efficient and economical method for reducing carryover contamination in an amplification procedure. The method of the present invention enables background caused by contaminant amplification product to be reduced or eliminated through the incorporation of at least one modification into the amplification product. The modified amplification product is readily distinguishable from the target sequence in a test sample. Prior to amplifying the target in a new test sample, the sample may be treated to selectively cleave the contaminant amplification product so that it cannot be amplified in the new sample.

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Louisville, CO, United States of America

Rodney M Richards