Automated process for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample
View Patent ↗An automated process for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample. The process includes separating the target nucleic acid from other material present in the sample at a first station, transferring the separated target nucleic acid from the first station to a second station using a rotatable transport mechanism, combining the transferred target nucleic acid and reagents for performing an amplification reaction at the second station, and performing an amplification reaction. A product of the amplification reaction is detected as an indication of the presence of the target nucleic acid in the sample.
1. A process for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample containing the target nucleic acid, the process comprising the automated steps of:
a) at a first station, immobilizing the target nucleic acid on a magnetically responsive particle;
b) subjecting the magnetically responsive particle to a magnetic field and aspirating non-immobilized components of the sample;
c) transferring the target nucleic acid immobilized in step a) from the first station to a second station using a rotatable transport mechanism;
d) at the second station, combining the transferred target nucleic acid of step c) and reagents for performing an amplification reaction;
e) performing an amplification reaction which produces an amplification product indicative of the presence of the target nucleic acid in the sample; and
f) detecting the amplification product of step e) as an indication of the presence of the target nucleic acid in the sample.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the non-immobilized components of the sample include non-target nucleic acid.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the target nucleic acid is hybridized to a capture probe prior to immobilizing the target nucleic acid on the magnetically responsive particle.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the target nucleic acid remains immobilized on the magnetically responsive particle during step c).
5. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming a complex comprising the amplification product and a probe, wherein the amplification product is detected in step f) by detecting the formation of the complex.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the probe includes a detectable label.
7. The process of claim 5 , wherein the amplification product is a nucleic acid sequence that is the same as or complementary to a sequence of the target nucleic acid.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein steps a)-f) are performed with a stand-alone unit.
9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the first and second stations and the transport mechanism are contained within a housing of the stand-alone unit.
10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the first and second stations and the transport mechanism are located on a processing deck.
11. The process of claim 9 , wherein the stand-alone unit is movable.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the amplification reaction is selected from the group consisting of a polymerase chain reaction, a strand displacement amplification, and a transcription-associated amplification.
13. A process for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid in a sample containing the target nucleic acid, the process comprising the automated steps of:
a) at a first station, immobilizing the target nucleic acid on a magnetically responsive particle; subjecting the magnetically responsive particle to a magnetic field and aspirating non-immobilized components of the sample; and washing the magnetically responsive particle one or more times with a wash solution;
b) transferring the target nucleic acid immobilized in step a) from the first station to a second station using a rotatable transport mechanism;
c) at the second station, combining the transferred target nucleic acid of step b) and reagents for performing an amplification reaction;
d) performing an amplification reaction which produces an amplification product indicative of the presence of the target nucleic acid in the sample; and
e) detecting the amplification product of step d) as an indication of the presence of the target nucleic acid in the sample.
14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the target nucleic acid remains immobilized on the magnetically responsive particle during step b).
15. The process of claim 13 further comprising the step of forming a complex comprising the amplification product and a probe, wherein the amplification product is detected in step e) by detecting the formation of the complex.
16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the probe includes a detectable label.
17. The process of claim 13 , wherein steps a)-e) are performed with a stand-alone unit.
18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the first and second stations and the transport mechanism are contained within a housing of the stand-alone unit.
19. The process of claim 18 , wherein the first and second stations and the transport mechanism are located on a processing deck.
20. The process of claim 18 , wherein the stand-alone unit is movable.
21. The process of claim 13 , wherein the amplification reaction is selected from the group consisting of a polymerase chain reaction, a strand displacement amplification, and a transcription-associated amplification.
22. The process of claim 15 , wherein the amplification product is a nucleic acid sequence that is the same as or complementary to a sequence of the target nucleic acid.