Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Hewlett-Packard Company

SueAnn C Dahm

Carol T Schembri

Douglas J Dellinger

Arthur Schleifer

Mark Andrew Troll

Douglas A Amorese

Robert A Ach

Diane D Ilsley

A method of testing multiple fluid samples with multiple biopolymer arrays. A cover is assembled to a contiguous substrate carrying on a first side, multiple arrays each with multiple regions of biopolymers linked to the substrate, such that the cover and the substrate together form a plurality of chambers each containing a biopolymer array and each being accessible through its own port. Multiple fluid samples are introduced into respective chambers through a port of each such that the fluid samples contact respective arrays. A binding pattern of the arrays is observed. An apparatus and kit useful in such methods, are also provided.

Method of testing multiple fluid samples with multiple biopolymer arrays

Testing multiple fluid samples with multiple biopolymer arrays

The invention discloses and claims a signal amplification method for detecting a target nucleic acid analyte having a homopolymeric region and a target sequence. The method comprises (a) contacting an analyte under hybridizing conditions with a multiplicity of reporter probes, each probe including a signal region and an oligonucleotide sequence which is complementary to, and capable of forming a stable hybrid with the analyte homopolymeric region; and (b) forming an analyte:capture probe hybrid by contacting the analyte target sequence with a capture probe under hybridizing conditions.

Signal enhancement method and kit

A signal amplification method for detecting a target nucleic acid analyte having a homopolymeric region and a target sequence includes steps of: contacting an analyte under hybridizing conditions with a multiplicity of reporter probes, each reporter probe including a signal region and an oligonucleotide sequence which is complementary to and capable of forming a stable hybrid with the analyte homopolymeric region to form an analyte:reporter probe hybrid; and forming an analyte:capture probe hybrid by contacting the analyte target sequence with a capture probe under hybridizing conditions. The analyte:reporter probe hybrid may formed prior to contacting the analyte target sequence with the capture probe, so the result of contacting the analyte target sequence with the capture probe results in formation of an analyte:reporter probe:capture probe complex. The analyte:capture probe hybrid may be immobilized on a solid generally planar surface in an array format. Multiple reporter probes may form triple helix structures for further signal enhancement. Multiply-labeled hairpin reporter probes may be employed according to the invention. Also, a kit for carrying out the invention includes one or more capture probes immobilized on a surface, reporter probes each having a signal region and a sequence for binding analyte homopolymer regions, and, optionally, reagents for addition of homopolymer regions to nucleic acid analytes and for carrying out the hybridization reaction.

Hybridization assay signal enhancement

The invention discloses and claims a signal amplification method for detecting a target nucleic acid analyte having a homopolymeric region and a target sequence. The method comprises (a) contacting an analyte under hybridizing conditions with a multiplicity of reporter probes, each probe including a signal region and an oligonucleotide sequence which is complementary to, and capable of forming a stable hybrid with the analyte homopolymeric region, whereby the hybridization of multiple reporter probes to the homopolymeric region provides for signal amplification; and (b) forming an analyte:capture probe hybrid by contacting the analyte target sequence with a capture probe under hybridizing conditions.

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

SueAnn C Dahm